Microwave propagation characteristics of a high-temperature superconducting variable spacing parallel plate transmission line

A sinusoidal field solution for a high-temperature superconducting variable spacing parallel plate transmission line is derived. This solution demonst rates how to relate the propagation characteristics to the thicknesses and material parameters of the variable spacer and superconducting films in add ition to the dielectric substrates. Then, a numerical analysis of the atten uation constant and phase velocity as a function of the dielectric spacer t hickness is made. In addition, some further numerical results from this sol ution show that the roles played by the thicknesses of the two dielectric s ubstrates are insignificant and can be neglected in practical microwave app lications. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.