Do Distortionless Lines exist?

I am asked about my use of the term Distortionless Lines from time to time, often in the vein of they don't exist, so why discuss them?

Concept

The concept derives from the work of Heaviside and others in seeking a solution to distortion in long telegraph lines.

The problem was that digital telegraph pulses were distorted due to different attenuation and propagation time for different components of the square waves.

Heaviside proposed that transmission lines could be modelled as distributed resistance (R), inductance (L), conductance (G) and capacitance (C) elements.

In each incremental length Δx, there is incremental R, L, G and C.

Characteristic impedance Zo and complex propagation coefficient γ can be derived from the model, and it becomes apparent that only under certain conditions is the attenuation and phase velocity independent of frequency.

Heaviside determined that condition was that G/C=R/L, so this is the condition for a Distortionless Line.

That same condition means that Zo is a purely real number, and if Zo is purely real, then the line is Distortionless.

Note that Lossless Line is a special case of Distortionless Line, and necessarily Zo is purely real.

Real world

It is true that fabrication of a Distortionless Line is a considerable challenge, though some techniques might deliver an approximately Distortionless Line over a limited frequency range.

Whilst some might dismiss the concept of Distortionless Line as impractical, they probably apply Distortionless Lines freely in their analytical techniques without understanding what they are doing.

Let us look at some common operations.

Adding (and subtracting) directional power

Waves add, the E and H fields add vectorially, as do their V and I equivalents.

It happens that in the special case of purely real Zo (ie Distortionless Line) that the directional powers add, but they add by virtue of expansion of the expression for adding V and I (which simplify when Zo is real).

Plotting on Smith chart with real Zref

Most use of a Smith chart involves normalising plotted values to some real Zref. In so doing, an assumption is made that constant VSWR circles are wrt that Zref, and solutions (eg matching) based on that are conditional on the assumed real (Distortionless) Zref.

None of this is to suggest that a Smith chart with Zref including a significant imaginary part is invalid… just many things we have learned to do with a ‘real' Smith chart may not be valid (ie within acceptable error limits), and the scales are no longer as simple and useful as the chart devised by Philip Smith.

Application of ρ, Return Loss, VSWR

ρ, Return Loss, and VSWR are derived from the complex reflection coefficient Γ. Calculating Γ wrt some nominal real Zo involves some error, and raises the question of whether application of those to a real scenario (where Zo is different, eg not real) is within acceptable error limits.

S parameter techniques

S parameter techniques assume additive power, and that may not be appropriate for some problem solutions. The analysis tools effectively coerce a Distortionless Lines treatment.

Conclusions

Practitioners use analytical techniques that depend on an assumption that Zo is real (ie Distortionless Line) widely, and often without acknowledging it or even thinking about the implications.

Virtual Distortionless Lines are everywhere, and worth understanding when Distortionless Line analysis is being applied and whether it is appropriate.