TABLE OF CONTENTS The SMITH CHART is, fundamentally, a graphical representation of the interrelationships between electrical parameters of a uniform waveguide. Accordingly, its design and many of its applications can best be described in accordance with principles of guided wave propagation.
The qualitative descriptions of the electrical behavior of a waveguide, as presented in this chapter, will provide a background for better understanding the significance of various interrelated electrical parameters which are more quantitatively described in the following chapter. As will be seen, many of these parameters are represented directly by the coordinates and associated scales of a SMITH CHART, and their relationships are basic to its construction.
The term waveguide, as used in this book, will be understood to include not only hollow cylindrical uniconductor waveguides, but all other physical structures used for guiding electromagnetic waves (except, of course, heat and light waves). Included are multi-wire transmission line, strip-line, coaxial line, triplate, etc. Waveguide terms as they first appear in the text will be italicized to indicate that their definitions are in accordance with definitions which have been standardized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers [11], and are currently accepted by the United States of America Standards Institute (USASI). (Also, terms and phrases are sometimes italicized in lieu of underlining to provide emphasis or to indicate headings or subtitles.)
Although it may ultimately be of considerable importance in the solution of any practical waveguide problem, the particular wave guide structure is of...
