The most commonly used scattering parameters (S parameters) are normalized to a real reference resistance, typically 50Ω. In some cases, the use of S parameters normalized to some complex reference impedance is essential or convenient. But there are different definitions of complex-referenced S parameters that are incompatible with each other and serve different purposes. To make matters worse, different simulators implement different ones and which ones are implemented is rarely properly documented. What are possible scenarios in which using the right one matters? This tutorial-style paper is meant as an informal and not overly technical exposition of some such confusing aspects of S parameters, for those who have a basic familiarity with the ordinary, real-referenced S parameters.

We present an analytical nonlinear adiabatic theory of the microwave electron device that we call the Autophase Microwave Tube (AMT). In contrast to the well-known Traveling Wave Tube (TWT), the AMT exploits a highly efficient non-synchronous beam-wave interaction for the amplification (or generation) of the HF electromagnetic waves, and, differently from klystron and such hybrid devices as twystron, it employs a continuous beam-wave interaction. Because of these distinctive features, the AMT presents a special class of microwave electron devices, which feature very high electronic efficiency (which tends to 100%) and large bandwidth. Here, we develop the theory that allows one to find the profiles of static longitudinal electric or magnetic field (or both) over the device length, which yield negligible de-bunching together with highly efficient amplification (generation) of the HF electromagnetic wave. The analysis of electron motion in the bunch is performed by means of Lyapunov stability theory. The numerical example illustrates the possibility of achieving the electronic efficiency of AMT as high as 92%. We compare different autophase regimes in the AMT and show that the profiling of the longitudinal static magnetic focusing field in the helix AMT with the non-azimuthally symmetric wave has many advantages with respect to other regimes.

In this letter, a novel wideband traveling wave power divider/combiner based on the finline with irises is presented and studied. Experiments on the four-way passive divider/combiner demonstrate a minimum overall insertion loss of 1.5 dB at 35.8 GHz, and the insertion loss across 32-38 GHz is less than 2.5 dB.

A novel amplification mechanism of traveling TM wave on an electron beam within a waveguide structure is proposed. Under boundary constraint of the waveguide, a hybrid coupling of longitudinal plasma wave and transverse guided one occurs to result in traveling instability. The instability refers to a backward traveling amplification. The new amplification in the waveguide due to the interactive coupling between the space charge mode and the waveguide one is firstly pointed out. The analysis is extended to the relativistic energy range to get a large gain. The features and properties are discussed for a wide frequency range as well as a high gain-bandwidth product.

An exact computable expression is obtained for the electromagnetic field of a three-dimensional partially finite periodic array of lossless or lossy magnetodielectric spheres illuminated by a plane wave propagating parallel to the array axis. The array is finite in the direction of the array axis and is of infinite extent in the directions transverse to the array axis. Illustrative numerical examples are presented.

A series-fed beam-scanning array employing a MUlti-Stage Configured microstrip Antenna with Tunable reactance devices (MUSCAT) is proposed. The proposed antenna significantly expands the beam scanning range and achieves high efficiency. This antenna comprises unit element groups, whose elements are placed close to each other and employ tunable reactance devices. Analyses and experiments on the unit element groups show that their multi-stage configuration extends the phase shift range and increases the radiation efficiency, e.g., a 120phase shift and the radiation efficiency of more than 50% are achieved, when three stages are employed. The radiation pattern of the fabricated MUSCAT array antenna comprising eight unit element groups is measured. A beam scanning range of 27, which is greater than twice the beam scanning range of a non-multi-stage configuration, is achieved.

Traveling electromagnetic waves on infinite linear periodic arrays of lossless penetrable spheres can be conveniently analyzed using the source scattering-matrix framework and vector spherical wave functions. It is assumed that either the spheres are sufficiently small, or the frequency such, that the sphere scattering can be treated using only electric and magnetic dipole vector spherical waves, the electric and magnetic dipoles being orthogonal to each other and to the array axis. The analysis simplifies because there is no cross-coupling of the modes in the scattering matrix equations. However, the electric and magnetic dipoles in the array are coupled through the fields scattered by the spheres. The assumption that a dipolar traveling wave along the array axis can be supported by the array of spheres yields a pair of equations for determining the traveling wave propagation constant as a function of the sphere size, inter-sphere separation distance, the sphere permittivity and permeability, and the free-space wave number. These equations are obtained by equating the electric (magnetic) field incident on any sphere of the array with the sum of the electric (magnetic) fields scattered from all the other spheres in the array. Both equations include a parameter equal to the ratio of the unknown normalized coefficients of the electric and magnetic dipole fields. By eliminating this parameter between the two equations, a single transcendental equation is obtained that can be easily solved numerically for the traveling wave propagation constant. Plots of the k - β diagram for different types and sizes of spheres are shown. Interestingly, for certain spheres and separations it is possible to have multiple traveling waves supported by the array. Backward traveling waves are also shown to exist in narrow frequency bands for arrays of spheres with suitable permittivity and permeability.

Bit error rate estimation of the LEO satellite channel is presented. Since it could hardly be expressed the bit error rate under the practical degradation factors in a closed form, the method to predict the bit error rate using the known moments of the degradation factors is employed. The numerical example in this analysis is provided, especially, under the effects of Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier (TWTA) nonlinearity, fading effect and intersymbol interference (ISI). Under Ricean fading channel model, in the LEO environment, the result shows the system performance is worse and couldn't be used for voice communication when the LEO satellite is located at a lower elevation angle (EL). Besides, the degradation of the effect of ISI is more prominent when the LEO satellite is located at a higher EL.

A slot pair array using a post-wall waveguide is a promising candidate for a Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) sector antenna to be used in a base station. This array is formed by a traveling wave antenna, and therefore its main beam direction varies with frequency. To overcome this difficulty, we propose a new structure that comprises of a cosecant array and an additional Talor array. This structure can fix the main beam in a constant direction whilst maintaining a cosecant radiation pattern. We conducted an investigation based on an array factor, and the validity of the method was confirmed by experiment.

A broadband rhombic loop antenna is introduced to radiate a circularly polarized wave. This antenna has a single feed and is located above a ground plane. The perimeter of the loop is typically about 1.3 wavelength. One gap is made on the loop to produce a traveling wave distribution of current. Antenna characteristics are calculated by the method of moments and compared with the measured data. By adjusting a perimeter and a gap position of the loop, circular polarization is obtained. In addition, with the appropriate vertex angle of the rhombus, the bandwidth of about 20% for the axial ratio (2dB) is attained and the possibility of controlling the input impedance is found. Finally, it is observed that sense of circular polarization can be changed easily from left-hand to right-hand, and vice versa by switching one gap position to the other on the rhombic loop.