CERN 70-4

Proton Synchrotron
Department
4 February 1970

ORGANISATION EUROPEENNE POUR LA RECHERCHE NUCLEAIRE

CERN EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH

HIGH-FREQUENCY AND PULSE RESPONSE OF COAXIAL TRANSlviiSSION CABLES

WI1H CONDUCTOR, DIELECTRIC AND SEMICONDUCTOR LOSSES
H. Riege

GENEVA
1970

Copyright CERN, Genwe, 1970

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CERN 70-4
Proton Synchrotron
Department
4 February 1970

ORGANISATION EUROPEENNE POUR LA RECHERCHE N UCLEAI RE

CERN EUROPEAN ORGANIZATION FOR NUCLEAR RESEARCH

HIGH-FREQUENCY AND PULSE RESPONSE OF COAXIAL TRANSMISSION CABLES

WITH CONDUCTOR, DIELECTRIC AND
H. Riege

GENEVA
1970

SB~ICONDUCTOR

LOSSES

ABSTRACT

The distortion of arbitrary pulses is computed for coaxial transmission cables with
different kinds of losses. Starting from cables with normal skin effect losses, formulae
for attenuation and rise-time of rectangular and nearly rectangular pulses are developed.
The theory of combined conductor and dielectric losses is reviewed. Furthermore, the
contribution of additional conducting or semiconducting layers to the losses in highvoltage pulse cables is investigated. By use of Maxwell's equations, the propagation
constants in the frequency domain are calculated. For coaxial cables with semiconducting
layers also an approximate solution in the time domain i~ presented, by which the distortion of arbitrary pulse shapes can be numerically computed.

SIS/jmr/mta

CONTENTS
Page

1.

INTRODUCTION

2.

TRANSMISSION LINE EQUATIONS

3.

HIGH-FREQUENCY APPROXH1ATION FOR COAXIAL CABLES WITH LOSSES

3.1 Coaxial cables with conductor losses only

3.2 Coaxial cables with conductor and dielectric losses

4.

LOSSES BY CONDUCTING AND SEMICONDUCTING LAYERS

IN COAXIAL HIGH-VOLTAGE PULSE CABLES
4.1
4.2

Skin effect in conducting layers

Losses in semiconducting layers

APPENDIX I : FREQUENCY ANALYSIS OF SOME TYPICAL PULSE SHAPES

APPENDIX II
APPENDIX Ill

REFEREI1CES

11

13
14
15

23

SKIN EFFECT IN TWO CONDUCTING LAYERS

WITH DIFFERENT CONDUCTIVITIES

27

CALCULATION OF THE Cm1PLEX PROPAGATION CONSTANT Ys

IN THE CASE OF AN IDEAL TRANSMISSION LINE WITH A
SEMICONDUCTING LAYER

29
33

1.

INTRODUCTION

In the fast ejection systems of high-energy accelerators the transmission of pulses

through coaxial cables plays an important role. One problem is the power transmission
from the storage line pulse generators to the fast kicker magnets, which deflect the particle beam. Rise-time and attenuation of the transmitted pulses have to fulfil certain
minimum conditions in order to guarantee a clean ejection. A second point of interest is
the distortion of pick-up signals (beam diagnostics, monitoring), which need to be known
if one wants to eject efficiently. It is, therefore, very useful to have available
theoretical methods, which allow the computation of the pulse response for different
types of transmission cables.
The exact calculation of the response of coaxial cables to an input signal with an
arbitrary frequency spectrum is analytically a complex problem. Fortunately, however, the
frequency content of signals practically applied is usually concentrated within a limited
frequency range (see Appendix I). Then it is often possible to find rather simple solutions,
which describe the cable behaviour with a good approximation.
2.

TRANSMISSION LINE EQUATIONS

The purpose of tl1is Section is to review briefly the well-known general transmission
line theory [see, for example, Johnson 1 ), Matick 2 ), and Guillemin 3 ) ] and to give some definitions which are used in the following Sections. The time response of a transmission
line to an input signal can be calculated from the transmission line equations for voltage
V and current I as functions of time t and space coordinate z:

(1)

Here R (resistance/length), L (inductance/length), G (conductance/length) and C (capacity/

length) are constant parameters.
that

For the spectral amplitudes of voltage and current, V , I , it follows from Eq. (1)
w w

dVw(z)

=-

(R + jwL) Iw (z)

=-

Z5 (w) Iw(z)
(2)

diw(z)

d-;-

-(G + jwC)VJz)

-Yp(w) Vw(z)

These equations are also valid if the series impedance/length, z , and the parallel
s
admittance/length, Yp, are arbitrary functions of w. The general solutions of Eq. (2)
are given by
Vw(z) =

v;

lw(z)

exp (-Yz) +

[v:

v:,

exp (-Yz)-

exp (+Yz)

v:,

(3)

exp (+Yz)] ,

- 2 -

where V+, V- are the voltage amplitudes of the waves moving in the +z or -z direction,
w w
respectively. The characteristic impedance Z0 is
(4)

and y represents the complex propagation constant, which is given by

If Z and Y are simple functions of frequency w, sometimes a solution can be found in

s
p
the time domain with the aid of Laplace or Fourier transformation.
3.

HIGH-FREQUENCY

APPROXI~lATION

For coaxial
stant and y is a
several hundreds
R << wL and G <<

FOR COAXIAL CABLES WITH LOSSES

cables with small losses, Z0 can nearly be regarded as a real conrather simple f1mction of frequency in the frequency range between
of kHz and the cut-off frequency. From Eqs. (2) and (4) we see, if
wC, that

z0 = -y!1.
c
and

Y =

or, if y

1 + R/jwL ,
1 + G/jwC

J(R + jwL) (G + jwC)"" jwjLC

[1

f1_

(6)

VC

~ (j~L

j~c)]

(7)

a+ jS

"'~"'lR+lG,
- 2 z;; 2 '0

(8)

(9)

The first term of the attenuation constant a represents the losses in the cable conductors, whilst the second term is the loss contribution of the dielectric insulator.
Below a few hundreds of l~z the dielectric losses are negligible. However, at very high
frequencies (more than 1 GHz) they may predominate.

3.1

Coaxial cables with conductor losses only

Let us consider first a coaxial cable with an ideal dielectric insulator, but with
conductors, which have very small, however finite, conductivities a.,
a (see Fig. 1).
l
a
The currents produced by the longitudinal field component in the conductors therefore
lead to losses, which increase with frequency on account of skin effect. The series impedance Zs [Eq. (2)] in this case can be easily calculated with the aid of the Maxwell
equations for cylindrical fields. Here the exact solution [which can be found in Johnson 1 )
and Fidecaro 4 )] is not presented, because already at fairly low frequencies there holds a
very simple, but rather accurate, approximation for Z . One can write
s
(10)

- 3 -

where Ri is the resistance of the conductors per length, and Li and La are the internal
and external inductances per length.
OUTER CONDUCTOR
INNER CONDUCTOR
DIELECTRIC INSULATOR

Fig. 1

Configuration of a coaxial cable

The approximate expression for Zsi obtained with the

!~ell

equations is given by

(11)

with r.,
ra, a.,
aa and~-,~
1
1
1
a being the radii, conductivities and permeabilities of the
inner and outer conductor, respectively (see Fig. 1). From Eqs. (4), (5), (10) and (11)
and with the well-known formulas for La and C
2mo:

c
where

E
~0

= dielectric constant of the insulator

= permeability of the vacuum ~ permeability of the dielectric

and furthermore with

and B

~i =~a~ ~ 0 ,

ai = aa = ac we get the following expressions for y, a

y = Aj;

where

A=l

a=

~A

Bw

Bjw

(12)

(13)

11.

A ,

/E(_l_+_l_) ln(ra/rJ
1

2 V ~ ra

(14)

(15)

ri

These formulae are valid as far as the skin depth 6 12/~wac is small with respect
to the radial thickness of the inner and outer conductors.

(16)

- 4 -

For a matched or infinitely long coaxial cable it is now possible to calculate the
distortion of arbitrary input signals V.(t),
the frequency content of which does not extend
l
considerably beyond the limits of validity of Eqs. (13), (15) and (16). From Eqs. (3) and
(12) one gets the following relation between the Fourier components Vw(i) and Vw(O) of the
output voltage Vout(t,i) and the input voltage Vi(t)
(17)

If V.(t)
= 0 fort< O, we find the output voltage Vou tlt,i) appearing after the length i
l
of cable by use of the convolution theorem 5 ) as

Vout (t,i)

A~

t-B

2v 1T

J Vdt-B- x) exp (- (A)

4x

2
)

~/

dx H(t-Bi),

(18)

where H(t) is the Heaviside function. If one neglects the pure cable delay, Bl, andrestricts oneself to the distortion of the signal and if the "cable rise-time" To = (A) 2
is introduced, one can write Eq. (8) withy= t/T 0 , z = x/To also as
y

Vout(Y)

2~

JVi (y-z) exp (-lz) 2~~2

(19)

The output voltage Vout' according to Eqs. (18) and (191 can be numerically evaluated for
any input signal by a FORTRAN program on the computer. However, in several cases one can
easily find an exact solution.
A very simple response comes out for a delta pulse of weight 1, Vi(y) = o(y)/T 0 , in
the input of the cable. By definition of the delta function o(y) the delta response dc (y)
of a cable with conductor losses is expressed as

(20)

The delta response dc(y) is a good approximation for rectangular pulses of weight 1,
if the pulse length is much smaller than T0 In Fig. 2, dc(y) is plotted for To = 1. The
response uc(y) to a unit step input pulse, Vi(y) = H(y), follows directly from Eq. (19) as

Vout(Y)

uc(Y)

erfc

( 2 ~)

H(y)

[1- erf

(z~)] H(y) ,

(21)

where
erf(x)

1 - erfc (x)

is the well-known error function.

Figure 3 shows a plot of uc(y).
can be expressed with a = T/To as

Vout(Y)

sc(Y)

The response sc(y) to a square pulse of length T

}y) H(y)- erfc (u:-a) H(y-a)

erfc ( 2

(22)

- 5 de (y)
1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

01+

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0.5

1.0

10.0

5.0

Fig. 2 Delta response of a cable with 2 conductor losses only.

normalized time; t = time; To = (A~) ; ~ = cable length.

y = t/<o

A plot of square pulses with the same initial length T distorted by different lengths of
cable is given in Fig. 4.
The next example is a trapezoidal pulse (see Appendix I) with a flat top length T
and linear rise and fall T'. With a= T/< 0 , a' = T'/<o the response tr c (y) to such a
pulse can be written

V,,, (yJ

~ tr,(yJ ~ ;!; [! erfc (, }x] dx H(y) - Terfc [,);-] dx H(y - a')

y-r

erfc [,);-] dx H(y - a -a')

+ y-rerfc [,);-] dx

H(y- a - 2a')]
(23)

For a' <<a (T' << T) andy> a'

to the approximation

T'/< 0 , an expansion of trc(y) in a Taylor series leads

(24)

- 6 -

1,0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

o~------------,--------------r------~-----r,-~--~-r--r--r~--,-~--~.-

40

15 20

10

60

80

100

Fig. 3 Unit step response of a cable with conductor losses only.

y = t/T 0 =normalized time; t
time; To = (A~) 2 ; ~=cable length.

Sc

(tiT)

1 .o+-----------~T~/~T~=~oo~----------~
0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

(tiT)

Fig. 4 Distortion of a square pulse after different lengths of a cable

with conductor losses only. T =pulse length; t = time; To = (A~) 2 ;
~ = cable length.

TI1e distortion of a trapezoidal pulse with a'/a = 0.2 can be seen in Fig. 5. Figure 6
shows the response to a parabolic input pulse (see Appendix I), which is computed numerically from Eq. (19). For small rise and fall times, Eq. (24) is also a good approximation
for the parabolic pulse response. Finally we regard the distortion of a pulse without
flat top, namely Vi(y) = sin 2 (rry/a), the response of which is presented in Fig. 7.

- 7 -

For practical purposes it is often not necessary to know the total shape of the distorted signal. Generally it is sufficient to know the attenuation and the rise-time of
the pulse. Since the pulse, after it has passed through a certain length of cable, does
not anymore present a flat top, the most convenient definition of attenuation of square
pulses with and without initial rise-time is att = 1- Vmax/V 0 , where V0 is the flat top
voltage of the input pulse and Vmax the maximum voltage of the distorted pulse.
trc (tiT)

TRAPEZOIDAL INPUT PULSE

1.0

0.8

a= T/t 0 = 35
a'= T'/T = 0.2

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.0

1.4

1.8

1.6

2.0

tiT

Fig. 5 Response of a cable with conductor losses only to a trapezoidal

input pulse and a square pulse of flat top length T.
t = time; To = (A~) 2 ; ~ = cable length.

T'

rise-time;

Vout
PARASOL~

INPUT PULSE

1.0

o.8
DISTORTED PARABOLIC PULSE
SQUARE PULSE AFTER
LENGTH OF CABLE

0.6

a:T/t 0 :35
a'= T' IT = 0.2

ME

0.4

0.2

tIT= 1
04L----+---~~--~----~-----r----~----~----~----r---~-------..

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

Fig. 6 Response of a cable with conductor losses only to a parabolic

input pulse and a square pulse of flat top length T. T' = rise-time;
t = time; To = (A~) 2 ; ~ = cable length.

tiT

- 8 -

Yout

0.5

1.0

1.5

tiT

Fig. 7 Distortion of a sin 2 (nt/T) input pulse after different lengths of

a cable with conductor losses only. T = pulse length; t = time;
To = (A) 2 ; t = cable length.

A rough idea of the rise-t:iJne of a distorted pulse is given by the "cable rise-t:iJne"
To = (M) 2 For a unit step To indicates the t:iJne after which the output signal is reaching 48% of the input voltage V0 With this value, however, one does not take into account
the strong bending of the response function between V0 /2 and Vmax Therefore it seems more
convenient to define the rise-t:iJne t
as the t:iJne in which the output signal is increasing
rx
from 0 to a certain ratio x of the max:iJnum voltage Vmax. For a square pulse of length T
the maximum nearly coincides with the starting point of the second term of sc(y) [see
Eq. (22) and Fig. 4] provided T > T0 Therefore it holds approx:iJnately with q = T/T 0
that
(25)

q > 1

and

att

~ erf ( 2 ~)

(26)

q > 1

We can also calculate the relative rise-t:iJne for a rectangular pulse Yrx
Eqs. (22) and (25).
Yrx

~ [(1 - x) .fTici

+ xT

t rx/T, from

(27)

valid only for q > 1, qyrx > 1, x > 0.5.

In Fig. 8 the attenuation of a square pulse is plotted as a function of q. Figure 9
shows a graph of normalized rise-t:iJne Yrx = trx/T versus q for different ratios
x = V(yrx )/Vmax When using these graphs practically one only has to determine the

 ATTENUATION

ott
i

I
t

:1 i:I I II i

I
I

'

'

I
'

0.1

0.01
!

'<

0.001,_~~~~~~--~-W~~~~~~~~~+4~~~~~~~~~~~~~--. .

0.1

10

100

1000

q = T I '1'0

Fig. 8 Attenuation (att) of rectangular pulses in dependence of pulse length T and of the "cable rise-time"
conductor losses only. To = (A~) 2 ; ~=cable length.

To

for cables with

NORMALIZED RISE-TIME

Yrx

!. I

t I .

: .i

Ill .

1'j....
I I!
I

I . .

-~
I
i

0.1

0.01
~

Cl

i
'j1:: :i
..... j
I I

0.001

Ii Il
II

.I

I
'

0.0001

I 1

10

!
I

j I

100

!'

1000

10 000

q =T I "t 0

Fig. 9 Normalized rise-time Yx (from 0 to x Vmax) of distorted rectangular pulses for cables with conductor losses only.
y rx = t rx /T; t rx = rise-time from 0 to x Vmax ; T =pulse length; To = (A) 2 ; = cable length.

- 11 -

attenuation factor A of the cable, either theoretically [Eq. (15)] or from a measured
attenuation curve a(w) [Eq. (13)].
Approximative formulae for attenuation and rise-time of distorted pulses with finite,
but, compared with the pulse length T, small initial rise-times T' can be derived from
Eq. (24). With q = T/T 0 and a" = T'/T the attenuation is given by
att

1
erf ( 2/Cl

J [1 - a"4 exp (-

41q)] ~

a"J

1 (1 - 4 ,
;:rrq

(28)

valid for a" 1, q > 1.

The expression for the relative rise-time
such an output pulse can be written
, _ t~x _
Yrx - T - Yrx

a"
+z

y~x

+X

= t~x/T from

3/2) _
Yrx - Yrx

0 to x

= V(y~x)/Vmax of

+ a"
z '

(29)

valid only for a" 1, q > 1, qy' > 1.

rx
Thus, in a first approximation and under the specified limitations, the output risetime t'rx of a pulse with initial rise-time T' is nearly the sum of the rise-time for an
ideal square pulse plus half of the initial rise-time.

3.2 Coaxial cables with conductor and dielectric losses

At frequencies higher than 100 MHz the dielectric insulator of a coaxial cable is
contributing more and more to the total losses. Hysteresis and relaxation of the polarization in the dielectric material are acting in the same way, as if a real conductivity
were present. Losses of this kind are linked with the radial electric field component
and are quantitatively described by the loss angle 8 of the insulating material. Often
8 is found to be nearly constant in the frequency range between several hundreds of kHz
and 1 GHz. If we replace G/wC in Eq. (7) by tg 8 and R by Zsi [see Eqs. (10) and (11)],
the complex propagation constant y can be written
y

jWB

+ AfJW + ! Bwtg 8

(30)

Physically this expression cannot be completely correct, since any transfer function
should contain j and w only in the combination jw. Nevertheless, Eq. (30) is often
used 4 ' 6 ' 7 ) and seems to be a rather good approximation.
The distortion of arbitrary input signals on a cable with conductor and dielectric
losses can again be computed according to the convolution theorem. But before doing this
let us first deal with the pulse distortion by dielectric losses only. Disregarding the
cable delay Bt, it holds for the ratio of output and input spectral amplitudes that
(31)
where b =! B tg e. For an arbitrary input pulse Vi(t), Eq. (31) can be solved by Fourier
transformation. The response to a delta pulse of weight 1, V.(t)
= o(t) follows then
l

- 12 simply as

(32a)

or with Td = o, t/Td =

Vout(u)

dd(u)

2 1
1
TI Td 1 +

=-- - 2

(32b)

One can find the calculation and a plot of dd(u) in Ref. 6.

pulse response sd(u) can be calculated as
sn(u)

With Eq. (32b) the square

~TI [arctg(u) H(u)- arctg(u-a) H(u-a)],

(33)

where a= T/Td and T =pulse length (Fig. 10).

The response to an arbitrary input pulse .in a cable with conductor and dielectric
losses can be computed by the convolution
y

Vout(Y) =

J Vi(x) fl(y- x) dx,

(34)

1vhere fl(y) is the response to a delta pulse of weight 1 of a cable with conductor and
dielectric losses. fl(y) can be computed by the convolution
y

ll(y)

T02

J dd(y' x) dc(Y- x) dx

(35)

using Eqs. (20) and (32b). The parameter y'

variable tis normalized to To as in Eqs. (34)
however, different modes of calculation of the
square pulse response scd(y) for conductor and

T0 /Td has to be introduced, if the time

and (35). The convolution theorem allows,
general pulse response. For example, the
dielectric losses can be computed from a

tl T

Fig. 10 Distortion of a square pulse after different lengths of a cable

with dielectric losses only. T = pulse length; Td = o = "cable risetime"; = cable length.

- 13 -

convolution between the square pulse response sd(u) for dielectric losses only and the
delta response dc(y) for conductor losses only:
y

Vout(y) = sciY) =

T0

Jsiy'

(36)

x) dc(Y- x) dx

In Fig. 11 a few distorted square pulses of constant initial length T are presented
for different values of y'.

INPUT PULSE

1.0

---------'--------,
I
I
I

0.8

Tf"o : 8,7 .CONST.

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

tiT

Fig. 11 Response of a cable with conductor and dielectric losses to a

square input pulse for constant To but different Td T = pulse length;
t =time; To= (A) 2 = const.; Td = Et; t =cable length; y' = To/Td.

4.

LOSSES BY CONDUCTING AND SEMICONDUCTING LAYERS

IN COAXIAL HIGH-VOLTAGE PULSE CABLES
The simple theory of skin effect and dielectric losses enables us to predict the
behaviour of normal commercial coaxial cables rather accurately. Unfortunately, it fails
for many of the available high-voltage pulse cables, in which well-conducting (graphite
or carbon loaded paper) or semiconducting (conducting polythene) layers are present between
the dielectric insulator and the conductors. These layers are used to increase the lifetime of the cables, especially if they are constructed with braided conductors. Conducting layers (generally between outer conductor and dielectric) guarantee a better electrical
contact between the single wires and a better mechanical contact with the dielectric insulator, which is also protected from the sharp edges of the metallic conductors. Release
of high electric point stresses at the wires of the braided internal conductor and elimination of voids caused by thermal expansion of the insulator are the main reasons for using
a semiconducting layer between internal conductor and insulator. On the other hand these
layers may considerably increase the losses and deteriorate the pulse response. In the
following sections some approximative estimates are made concerning the contribution of
conducting or semiconducting layers to the total loss of coaxial high-voltage pulse cables.

- 14 -

4.1

Skin effect in conducting layers

The losses arising in an additional conducting layer are mainly due to skin effect
as in the metal conductors. The total loss of a combination of a well-conducting (metal)
and a 'vorse-conducting medium (for instance graphite) will now be studied for a plane
case as shown in Fig. 12. We assume having a longitudinal electrical field in z direction,
MEDIUM 0

MEDIUM 1

IDEAL DIELECTRIC OR
FREE SPACE
E, IJ.IJ.o,o'sO

BAD CONDUCTOR
<l'=<l'l,IJ.-IJ.o

MEDIUM 2
GOOD CONDUCTOR
<l'=<l'2,IJ.;IJ.o
E:-Eo

y
ELECTRICAL FIELD
STRENGTH AMPLITUDE

Ez(O)

Fig. 12 Field distribution in an arrangement of two plane conducting

layers of infinite extension.

Ez(Y) exp (jwt), the amplitude of which only depends on they coordinate. Since o 1 << o2 ,
at low frequencies the main current is flowing in medium 2 with a skin depth of
Oz = /Zjlpowo 2
Then the resistance per unit length (in z direction) of a strip of width
6x (in x direction) is given by
(37)

At frequencies high enough, where 82 is going to zero, the current is forced to flow
mainly in medium 1, where again skin effect is taking place resulting in the higher
resistance
(38)

if 81 << d = thickness of the conducting layer 1. The exact solution for the total series
impedance ZSl. of medium 1 and 2 is given in Appendix II. The frequency interval where the
real part of ZSl., the resistance RS (w), is rising from R2 to R1 , is determined by the parameters d, o 1 , o2 Figure 13 shows the exact frequency dependence of Rs(w) for some special
values of these parameters and for 6x = lm.

- 15 Rs(w)

(Q/m)

~l~:~-(V
~

10

.., ll:l-1

~
'\

;I~ ~
.

6.x :1m
d
d

=0.35mm_

=0.35mm
=tl.2mm

=0.3
k! =0.2rr
d

mm

\
'\.

\ l jv

~~

t?j ~
,..

,.. ,.....

,.. ......

'?~;

c,O

,.,.6.,
;,.'

'II l.~
,o,
...
o'1-,

vv ~
'

, ... ,..

,..

;;,'

......

~:

...

1 o-

~
10 6

~,

10 7

10'

10.

10 11

10 12

w = 2ttf ( 1/sec)

Fig. 13 Real part, Rs(w), of the series impedance Zsi calculated for skin
effect in two conducting media (e.g. copper and graphite) according to
Eq. (AII.S). d; thickness of the bad conducting layer (medium 1);
01 ; conductivity of the medium 1.

If we come back to a coaxial configuration (Fig. 1) and assume having a conducting

layer of thickness d << r a - r.l beuveen the dielectric insulator and the outer conductor,
we find the complex propagation constant from Eq. (7) as
(39)

With Eq. (8) and Eq. (AII.S) the attenuation constant a can be expressed for 6x

2nr as
a

( 40)
In the time domain the computation of the distortion of arbitrary pulse shapes by a
cable with a propagation constant y, as given by Eq. (40), can be done only in a rough
approximation.

4.2 Losses in semiconducting layers

Whereas in conducting materials very small electric fields can produce considerable
losses, in semiconductors only high fields will give rise to counting losses on account of
their small conductivity. Therefore, in a semiconducting layer of a coaxial cable mainly
the radial electric field is contributing to the total loss. For the coaxial structure as
shown in Fig. 14, we can determine the complex propagation constant y , if we suppose the
s

- 16 -

OUTER CONDUCTOR
INNER CONDUCTOR
SEMICONDUCTING LAYER
DIELECTRIC INSULATOR

Fig. 14 Coaxial cable with a semiconducting layer between insulator and

internal conductor.

conductors and the dielectric insulator to be ideal (oc = oo, odiel = 0) and the semiconductor tO have the Same permittivity E and permeability ~ as the insulator (~ = ~
c

~diel

= ~s = ~o)
In Appendix III, ys is calculated with

as follows
( 41)

Ys
For 6 1 we can simplify

(42)

Separating this expression into real and imaginary parts it holds, with B

~.

that
(43)

and

wB

(1

1
)
+-b,2 1 + (Ew/os}
2

(44)

These formulae are equivalent to the circuit shown ill Fig. 15.
Equations (41) to (44) were developed under the condition of infinite conductivity
of the conductors. If we assume now having also losses in the metal there will not be
very much change in the field distribution. The longitudinal electrical field components
will not be exactly zero at the interfaces between insulator and metal and between semiconductor and metal. Nevertheless they are so small that one can linearly superpose them
on the semiconductor losses. So we can write the total propagation constant
(45)

- 17 OUTER CONDUCTOR

INNER
CONDUCTOR

Fig. 15

Simple model for a cable with a semiconducting layer

cd

capacity/length of the dielectric insulator

C
s
G
s

capacity/length of the semiconducting layer

conductance/length of the semiconducting layer.

and the attenuation constant

(46)
where A is given again by Eq. (15). Equations (45) and (46) can easily be modified, if
there is also (or only) a semiconducting layer in contact with the outer conductor. If
also dielectric losses or losses by an additional conducting layer are present, the corresponding terms have to be added or to be modified.
The transfer function fT of a matched or infinitely long coaxial cable with conductor
and semiconductor losses is found from Eqs. (3) and (45) with jw replaced by p, w = 0 /E
s
s '
'n = B~, 'D = LB~/2 and To = (A~) 2
fr(P.~) = e

-TnP

'-or-'

-FoP e-TDw 5[1-w 5/(P+w 5)]

e
..._,._.,

nonnal cond.
delay losses

(47)

semicond.
losses

The antitransformation of Eq. (47) into the time domain is possible by using the inverse Laplace transform J 0 (alt) of the image function exp (-a 2 /4p)/p [see Ref. 5]. J 0
is the normal Bessel function of order zero. Disregarding the normal cable delay 'n we
find the transfer function FT(t,~) in the time domain as
t

FT(u.)
>

..rr:r;,w
J exp[-T0/4(t0 D 5
r:::

2vTI

t- X

)3/2

x)J

exp [-ws (x

+ T D)] II (ws /4 T Dx)

dx
-r;;

(48)

yX

where I 1 is the modified Bessel function of order 1. TI1en the response to an arbitrary
input pulse V.(t)
can be computed from the convolution
1
(49)

ATTENUATION

(db/100m)

o<.

1000...,

'lj'

rj

II

!' ..

II'

1
.. ,1

i
i

I'"'
l.
,NO

MIC)N

. j~-+~~" , ,

ifi

:,

1:

r-.
.. 11tth,
'"'il:i! ~ :,;1i:WiH~
, ::r

~l ~,OR
:!.: '

.., ,... l
,
I
: ;J:i

j' "

11

lj

,,,J

!L

H+
!

~ ~~~,.,
j

11

:!'l'l'i'

~.tjLIJijl,:
t ~i : :,

I I I

'Ill'''I' I"I,

'" 1

: :, ,' ::

11

1
t

lqrlt''t

fl

'I

ltj

~ LL:,..~.J,

11

144;.1).o!"!" .J11I
~.,.,~'".:"

',h

I '

}:IW;~1:1:ir!i.,~~;;::::,i
:'i;:1i '1:,'1::~ ~:~:,1:
~!-;-tt ~~~I~~~~.~::. . . I.
.. i1 ~..:;;.~,.,;;r.~~.,,.
~~
"""'I,,
:! .,, 1,.,,...,.

:,

II

11

11

.. ,

11

1,

'

''I'

iii'
tl

lt,l

'

~.u!

,'.1[;~11

I,

iii

'

'I

'

ijil}:t ,..
I"1

,,,,

'

'

'
'"

,,

'

U n:

it;:n
0 "

"'"~
~ "'I '1 I~.
'1 ,1 '1I ;,.
I
,

ijl "'

I~

li"'
,lfii:ti

1
J1 '"I I
t,

'

,,

l:!ill

1 I
,r,,,,

.::"' '. II
!'

,,
I'

1 J'

:q:nlnr.~!
.. I,
w~: ~-T:"'~tn
... ..

tr;.

~~~~

,:
:;;

:-

~~

+1

'~:.

~~~ ~
II
'

i:'I

cc;;I::
i'i'

,,~. "~.,

11

1 ,,

1:

::. ;~~
,1: :_;~.-? i!';r
.:.
:~FL~~:::::;~.~ITi
':il:l!i'
'H!JIT
,f,,"'~+-:
~~m
I:.:.
:.' ' .. t
'I

I j

'J

....

!iCI " '

..

'

,.

":

'

: '

f-'

.:c

. :

', ,

.
"

.l

!i1

:::
;:!

,::.i

I'

::

::

:!r,
:
i

I
:

..

'

,:;

,.

ijl

', " l :;
,Htrr
' 1t ' I '
'
;l)ffi,.rt I!'
:li~Jlli:': : l ~

"

00

...' .'

I"

' . ', . ,.
.

J !

.:.r

""

ll:

IWI

. .. " 1; 1

lt'

"...

ii
!li

r ; i!i,
:j

rt:

IH+:t: :K
... .

:i

1: 1
1:"

!:::

!'....!i

....
:c:
.. ,

: :. :_

I'

c,
'll_;
l'>'"fl':

!'i!]:

'

:t

;-;-TT

..

'

I!

Hl::u

'I

'

,j,,

'

,,.., II

!1'
;it

,,,

[i[F'
' '
,:::u
.
::i , .. ' ' '

'iil;i.;:;:
;:i;

.. ..

"'i't

j!: !i ljiJit1.;;::'
1

100

ij

;j,tti F7"illi:

l ,.. ,~1

.II

lljjil

I"Cfh'"i:ft
1: ;..j; !":.;
1:'' cl' '!.,
I +th mel:: tt+1;

,.,
.
1 ,
'
...1t. 11 .f:"

.
1 1

'

1000

p;;J.

IJ!]'

'+

~l[ I h-''
111

;;;,,
I

I<

BILE

i(j

lii''''"'
'ji.'i!f"''lj
!:l;!~n
~;t!t+f1
11 ''
wl!Jli:i:,w;l::::jr'
j'[[)1i1!!,
:1 " 11 ,,1f+H,,lt ...
l'lil!l

10

Ir . i

I' t"+c
.

u
i''Fi!: :~~!'::~
. ..

::;1t
1!!H

f" t! I. 1ilih I;' 1:11

~~ r
, "';. ';
~r:m: li , ~ t
1 1" \ . _ : J irf;"!hi:'".t
II>! '

1 li~~~
'!r:::: 'I' :
I' ......
t:~:,", 1,~~~
,,, .... r+qHf*~,
, , ,
~ .:.,.c 1':!: 1,"
'
r:'~iHTt,
liiitijjj" 1 tt

:n nn ,, iti1

'I

1,1,

~~rr,,
" 'II'

' :

IIll

~-I''''""

'

0.1

"i

Iq

I I

'
,.
'""'I'

,, ...

117 ""

I,

- '""

1.. , I

lI

,: , .,.,
.

~ ......

I j I I,

1 .,,1,~.,
,,,

o I

,-t
~~.,1

r8.m1
1ril 1 1

1 1-+

.'

'

-~h

!:, ~~

~'-~~~

r1 ~~
tt' LJJl! I I i.ol ~
1'1
1 "1 ,,~~~ t~r-!LHfi ~ H
::~i
t
'"l'n.l':j
f Tt'rt'
~~ 1JPI!W
lti! 11
11 Ll'ill!i
I '~H'
:i :;l;

''I

' , ,.
:",,;"!
'
,:
':;

~~~
i
11i
il1't rr:l~l+i~~;;HU!'Hir
[]I
' l
~
..
'

'"'
, 1.' I "~~~
. ~

'

,.

r ,,,,.

,.,

't"' ~~'''

1I'T
:~,iT
H.t'"
NL

+-""itW++j+fj:li++:,.]J!frt
1 1

0 1

j,il~l""""

1'1,

11

I!

Ii I

I'

I'

. .

I:~ ~

"': .,.. -. ~".- 1

"'z~

;:

t ~ .[r
1 --~!~"~

!'rl
,...-~

:I

lj[lI
..
-4 . ) . . . . .'" '. '"-

~
~t:'['tlf
H~ 1~ jj~;r t,
...t~~~~.1
I

1"

;---;-

t I

1/l I

i!
I

l
i

i,ll

j" ,. '

;~11

~1,1
,, '
.~

::

11

'I

~ .. : .. ;~ ;J; ~~~ r., .

,,.
iU. ::. ,. 'l/:'i.,Jit"
'
I.,,,
J
.J' '
I!
I
1
' . . ',;
'' :
"'1
,11..,:r, 1 'I'
, " N
-:,
[',
';;'
r , ' ll)
~~ ' " ,,
1
I

1-\ilj,;j,,;,l
,1!11 1t 1 'I'

!;:

I'I

,:;1

II

IIi"'
I

J:,

' I i!

~: III II
f

;,

~''1I,H I , r"
l"""l'i!; 1

':::,. ': . ~~

'

I.,

tl

' I

" . ::

'

I:

'!.~,

[I

I
I

: 'I ; I I

''I,/

<

'

I'

It

I II II i' I I"1':

. ''

J
I
.. :,ii!l,,, .. ,i!l~'IJ'
~
;11'
J

tm,11
iii! :
jJtjr
1
1 I L

11 ..;

...
''

'

r'

C).

'
I'.

I I

V:II

,.
'i
.:. :::,1::

"

j' 1

I+ ttdtli~;ffipj
+!+!:"~ ,
, ~i;+H-t
'+ 1
;it '''t.~,
~ ;'!! ~ 'tj '~~--'
1 Iii' 'lf,l I r I: I : w~
n.:l:;'"''lqtlri d ,r '.
1
1

11'1

'

'

' ~t:

iI!

. ;:

"+J." '" ifi

rmtr~IH'
1.:;, jt'fil' ~ .. ,t_
;h;'i;

~:.1::

:i.,

11i'j

11''11~

CTHEO~Er

..

:.J~;"'

,; :
]:,,
lH,,,~IriJ
t!

~"""
!

:.,..;~..

I,

'l:ll .. Bl

H
, 1 r

'

'-

'';;;1' ,;,'i:c::

: .;:;,; ,:;

! .

IttM
,iitT

i~tHjf!itj~J
tij'i~
j : : +:'
"'''"
''

I /

.:. . ,

...

rJ

LO
..
.......
''.
,,. ... '

,; +1 :!

~"I l:~
~ ' '
...:::J1 ':~.
,:rn_;:.;:~.:::L:~
~ HGf :C
1-~:t'-c'~:J:
_,d
TT -,

\1

-.

1-:r
-~, ;::,, .....
l;::i:1.fl;;;,,..

"; Hie:"'
I 'IH~ -''
I:L

I I

r. . . . ,

~..--j

l..~ ..-!Ti
.. ,nn .,i
'

'

'

1-h: ....

dON bLC JOF

r-c-

I
' I

iI

100-l ..JfoiLEU
,,. .., C.4tf13l
,...... ''
:J_,..J:::.:
...
I, J--,r;;: i: '"

.I

I. . I

10

'
I

:i;

q ..

.. iljf,,

ttd'i

I'

I';

'

I i

..

FREQUENCY ( MHz)

Fig. 16 Real and theoretically calculated attenuation constant a as function of frequency for BICC 40P3/20
conducting layer.

cable with a semi-

- 19 As an example, Eqs. (45) and (49) are applied to a BICC 40P3/20

high-voltage pulse
cable, which has a semiconducting layer of d = 0.7 mm nominal thickness between the insulator and the inner conductor. The characteristic parameters of this cable are given
by r.1 = 6.3 mm, r a = 10.6 mm, 0c ~ 2 x 10- 8 (1/~), s/s 0 = 2.3. Since the conductivity 0s
of the semiconducting layer was not exactly known, the frequency response (attenuation)
of the cable was measured (see Fig. 16). A theoretical curve according to Eq. (45) was
fitted to the experimental one by choosing the parameters w = 5 x 10 9 (1/sec) or
s
1
0s = 10- 1 (1/~), respectively,~= 0.23 and A= 2.70 x 10- 7 (sec 2 /m). The effective
values of ~ and A are higher than those calculated from the nominal values of the characteristic cable parameters. This may be mainly due to the braided conductors.
With the parameter values given above the unit step response
t

Vout ( t,)

JFr(x,) dx

(SO)

was computed for a cable length of 80 m (To = 0.46 nsec, TD = 46 nsec). Figure 17 shows
a comparison between the computed response and the response experimentally measured after
the same length of cable.
Figure 18 shows a few distorted pulses computed with different linear input risetimes. As for cables with conductor losses only [Eq. (29)], it holds approximately that
the rise-time of the output pulse (e.g., from 10 to 90%) is the sum of the cable rise-time
for a unit step pulse plus half of the initial ris~-t~e of the input pulse.
From Figs. 17 and 18 it appears that the pulse rise-time is much more deteriorated
by a cable with a semiconducting layer than by a cable with conductor losses only. Besides
the normal delay Tn' a considerable additional delay is produced, which can be quantitatively
UNIT STEP RESPONSE
CALCULATED DISTORTION BY CONDUCTOR LOSSES

1.0 - - - - - - - - - - -

ONLY

------

0.8

EXPERIMENTALLY MEASURED PULSE

0.6

CALCULATED DISTORTION BY CONDUCTOR

AND SEMICONDUCTOR LOSSES

l
0.4

0.2

0~----~----~--~----~-----r-----r----.-----.-----~--------~-----r--~~

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

so

90

100

110

120
TIME ( nsec)

Fig. 17

Real and theoretically calculated unit step response of an 80 m

long BICC 40P3/20 ~cable. Characteristic parameters according to Eq. (48):
To = 0.46 nsec, TD = 46 nsec, ws = 5 x 10 9 1/sec.

- 20 described by TD = 6B~/2 [for definition see Figs. 19 and 20; compare also with the
approximation of Eq. (47) for small p]. The attenuation of a long pulse is mainly determined by the conductor losses (Fig. 20). The semiconductivity as influences only the risetime of the pulse (Fig. 21). Figures 19, 20 and 21 present the unit-step response for constant cable length, but different sets of the parameters TD' T0 and ws.

1.0 -Vi-/Vo
-T---.------,.--------------------------1
I
/
(J
(J/
"-'/

PI

:'tl
cl

"/

~--,

,, /
~.;,v

//

I /
I I

0.4

J>

~,

0.6

<-'7'

"''
''/

0.8

//

I I //
/I/
II/
L~/

0.2

0~----T-----r---~~--~--~-r-----r----,-----~----r---~~--~-----r--~~

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120
TIME (nsec)

Fig. 18 Distortion of pulses with linear rise-time in a coaxial cable

with conductor and semiconductor losses. Parameters: To = 0.46 nsec,
TD = 46 nsec; ws = 5 x 10 9 1/sec, representing a BICC 40P3/20 S"l cable.

UNIT STEP RESPONSE

1.0
..l..o

0.8

.lo

= 42.5 nsec

= 4 7.5 nsc

_1_ 0 = 52.5 nsec

0.6

'to
0.4

0.2

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120
TIME (nsec)

Fig. 19 Unit step response of coaxial cables with semiconducting layers

of different thickness. (Constant parameters: To = 0.23 nsec,
Ws = 2.8 x 10 9 1/sec.) The parameter TD = 6(d)B~/2 quantitatively describes an additional delay, which, for small T 0 , is counted from 0 to 50%
of the flat top voltage.

- 21 -

Increasing 6, which means the thickness of the semiconducting layer, results in an increasing additional delay only. Higher skin effect attenuation (A) leads to more attenuation
and higher rise-time, whereas decreasing the semiconductivity a increases the rise-time
s
only.

UNIT STEP RESPONSE

0 :0.23n~c

1.0

:0.31nsec

:0.52nsec

=1.44nsec

0.8

0.6

to
0.4

0.2

0+---~----~--~_.~r---~---,----~--~----~--~----~--~----~

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120
TIME (n&ec)

Fig. 20 Unit step response of cables with a semiconducting layer and

different amounts of skin effect losses represented by the skin effect
"cable rise-time" co. Constant parameters: 'n = 47.5 nsec;
w = 2.8 x 10 9 1/sec.
s

UNIT STEP RESPONSE

1.0

0.8

(IJ

=2.8x10 9 (1/sec)

0.6

0.4

0.2

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120
TIME (nsec)

Fig. 21 Unit step response of cables with a semiconducting layer with

different conductivities (w =a /E), Constant parameters: co = 0.23 nsec,
s
s
'n = 47.5 nsec.

- 22 -

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank !llr. B. Kuiper for encouraging this work and for his helpful
criticism.
It is also a pleasure to make acknowledgement to Mr. A. Messina for several stimulating discussions and his help with experimental work. I am grateful to !ltr. U. Berger for
the preparation of the figures.

- 23 APPENDIX I
SDr~E

FREQUENCY ANALYSIS OF

TYPICAL PULSE SHAPES

The harmonic content of the transmitted pulse gives an indication for the applicability of a certain transmission line theory. Therefore, the frequency spectra A(w) of
some typical pulse shapes V(t) computed by
+oo

A(w)

ln J V(t) exp (-jwt) dt

(AI.l)

are presented.
a)

Rectangular pulse
ll'

v
Vo

a)

- T/2

-12tt/T

Fig. A.l

-8tt/T

+ T/2

-4tt/T

4tt/T

Stt/T

12tt/T W

The rectangular pulse in (a) the time and (b) the frequency domain.

An ideal rectangular pulse of length T and amplitude V0 has the spectrum

A( w)

V sin w :!:2

0
TTW

(AI. 2)

- 24 -

The main frequencies are concentrated in the first few peaks of the frequency distribution (Fig. A.l). The frequency spectrum of a delta pulse, which is a special case of a
square pulse with V0 + oo, T + 0, extends from 0 to w + oo with the same amplitude,
A(w) = V0 T/2n = const.
b)

Trapezoidal pulse

v
Vo

a)

-(T/2+T")

+ (T/2+T')

Vo(T +T') /2n

b)

-12n/T

Fig. A.2

-8n/T

2n/T' -4n/T

4n/T

2n/T'

8n/T

12n/T W

Trapezoidal pulse in (a) the time and (b) the frequency domain.

The frequency spectrum of a trapezoidal pulse with a linear rise and fall of length T'
can be expressed as
A(w)

2V

= - --0
TIW 2

T'

(T T')

T'
sin w - +
- - sin w2
2

(AI.3)

Compared with the ideal square pulse the finite rise-time T' leads to a concentration of

- 25 -

the harmonic content in the first few peaks of the frequency distribution (Fig. A.Zb).
This is even more true. for a parabolic pulse.
c)

Parabolic pulse

A parabolic pulse (Fig. A.3) is an even better, and rather simple, mathematical
representation of a real "rectangular" pulse.

a)

-(T/2+T')

+<TI2+T')

lA (w)l
Vg(T + T')
2Tt

b)

-12~t1T

2~t!T'

-81t/T

-4Tt/T

Fig. A.3 Parabolic pulse in (a) the time and (b) the frequency domain.

Rise, fall and top of the parabolic pulse are given in the time domain by

v =V-0
2

(t

+ T/2 + T')

V = V0

for

(T'/2)

V =V-0 ( 1+2 t

+ T/2 + T'/2 T'/2

(t

+ T/2 + T'/2)
2

(T'/2)

for
for

AI.4)

- 26 -

Then the frequency spectrum can be written

A(w)

l~ V~2

TIW

sin 2 (wT'/4) sin [w(T

+ T')/2]

(AI .5)

- 27 -

APPENDIX II
SKIN EFFECT IN TWO CONDUCTING LAYERS WITH DIFFERENT CONDUCTIVITIES
The series impedance Zsi of the arrangement shown in Fig. 12 can be calculated with
Maxwell's equations

_,.

a _,.

rot E = -

ll

at H

_,.

_,.

rot H = a E

(AILl)

a _,.

+s

at E

(AIL 2)

a2 _,.
2 E
at

(AIL3)

_,.

Elimination of the magnetic field vector H delivers

_,.
liE =

]l<J -

a _,.
E

'dt

+ JlE:

We assume having only a longitudinal electrical field component E (y) exp (jwt) in
z
the conducting layers. For o 1 , o 2 >> sw it holds that
(AIL4)

Observing the following boundary conditions with

]1 1

= ]1 2 = ll

Ez (1) (o) =Eo

Ez (1) (d) = Ez (2 ) (d)

H} l (d) = Hy) (d)

1

and introducing the skin-depths

one obtains the solution for the two media 1 and 2

(AILS)
(AIL6)

The integration constants are given by

+ j) v]
t.' exp [ -(1

ll exp [-(1
L:'
L:'

exp [(1

+ j)

v]

exp [(1 + j) vJ
Eo
DN

+ j) vJ Eo

- 28 -

where 11' = 82 - 81, l:' = 82 + 81, v = d/8 1 and DN is the denominator of A1 .

current J flowing in the two conductors (1) and (2) is calculated by

The total

(Ail. 7)

The total series impedance Zsi = E0 /(J!1x) of a strip of width !1x per unit length can be
expressed as

(1

+ j)[z' exp (v) exp (jv) +11' exp (-v) exp (-jv)J
(AILS)

where Rs(w) is the real part of Zsi and Li the internal series inductance per length.

- 29 APPENDIX III
CALCULATION OF THE CDr1PLEX PROPAGATION CONSTANT y 5 IN THE CASE OF AN
IDEAL TRANSMISSION LINE WITH A SEMICONDUCTING LAYER

We apply the Maxwell equations to the coaxial structure shown in Fig. 15. Conductors
and insulator are assumed to be ideal. Only the longitudinal electrical field component
E , the radial component E and the azimuthal magnetic field component H~ are different
z
r
~
from zero. All derivatives a/a in the Maxwell equations (AII.l) and (AII.2) are equal to
zero.
We can write the field components:
Ez = E2 ( r) exp (- y 5 Z) exp (jwt)

(AIII .1)

Er = Er(r) exp (-y 5 z) exp (jwt)

(AIII.2)

Hq,

Hq,(r) exp (-y 5 z) exp (jwt) ,

(AIII.3)

where Ez, Er and H are the amplitudes of the waves spreading in z direction with the propagation constant-ys. For the component Ez it follows from Eqs. (AII.3) and (AIII.l) that
(AIII.4)
where

(AIII.S)
(AIII.6)

The solutions E (l), E ( 2) in the two media 1 (semiconductor) and 2 (insulator) can be
z
z
written with the Bessel function J 0 and the Neumann function N0 as

where

A. 1

and

A. 2

~( 1 )(r)

A1 J 0 (jA. 1r)

+B

~(z)(r)

A2 J 0 (jA. 2r)

N0 (jA. 1r)

(AI II. 7)

B2 N0 (jA. 2 r),

(AIII.S)

are valid for medium 1 and medium 2 respectively.

Using the boundary conditions

(z)

= Ez (raJ = 0

the integration constants B1 , A2 and B2 can be expressed by A1 as

(AIII.9)

- 30 (AIII.lO)

(AIII .11)
The boundary condition for the magnetic field component H at the interface of insulator
and semiconductor,
(l)
H (r i

+ d)

gives the equation for the determination of Ys

(AII.l) and (AII.2), one can verify

(2)(

ri

+ d)

(AIII.l2)

With the aid of the Maxwell equations

(AIII.l3)
and together with Eqs. (AIII.7) to (AIII.l2) the following equation for

is obtained:

No(jA.lri) Jo[jA.l(ri +d)] -Jo(jA.lri) No[jA.l(ri +d)]

x No(jA.2ra)Jo[jA.2(ri+d)]-Jo(jA.2ra)No[jA.2(ri+d)]

(AIII.l4)

J 1 is the Bessel function and N1 the Neumann function of order 1.

Generally it is difficuLt to solve this complex transcendental equation, which contains also the higher modes
of wave propagation. For our case we try to find an approximate solution. For an ideal
dielectric insulator (2) it holds that

and for the semiconducting layer (1)

(AIII.l6)
Both media are assumed to have the same E and ~ We now consider only the principal propagation mode at frequencies not higher than a few hundred ~lliz. For semiconductivities os
of less than 10- 1 (1/Qm) and usual cable dimensions, we can use the following approximations of the Bessel functions for small arguments Jzl << 1 (see Ref. 8)
N

where

y = 1.78107.

(z)

- -TT ln =yz

Then Eq. (AIII.l4) is reduced to

(AIII.l7)

- 31 with~=

ln (1 + d/ri)/ln (ra/ri).
(AIII.l6) results finally in

Solving for ys and observing Eqs. (AIII.lS) and

(AIII .18)
or for 6. 1
(AIII.l9)

- 33 -

REFERENCES

1)

W.C. Johnson, Transmission lines and networks 04cGraw Hill, New York, 1950).

2)

R.E. Matick, Transmission lines for digital and communicative networks U4cGraw Hill,
New York, 1969).

3)

E.A. Guillemin, Communication networks, Vol. 2 (John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1953).

4)

G. Fidecaro, The high frequency properties of a coaxial cable and the distortion of
fast pulses, Nuovo Cimento Suppl. ser. X, 15, 254 (1960).

5)

G. Doetsch, Anleitung zum praktischen Gebrauch der Laplace-transformation

Mlinchen, 1961).

6)

G. Brianti, Distortion of fast pulses in coaxial cables, CERN 65-10 (CERN, Geneva, 1965).

7)

M.J. Lorrin, Transmission d'une impulsion tres breve par cable coaxial, Bulletin de
la Societe Fran~aise des Electriciens, 7e serie, tome 8, No. 94, 1958.

8)

Jahnke-Emde, Tafeln hoherer Funktionen (Springer, Berlin, 1962).

(Oldenburg,