WE3F-29
Space Wave Leakage From Higher Order Modes On
Various Planar Transmission Line Structures
Zhewang Ma and Eikichi Yamashita
The University of Electro-communications
1-5-1Chofugaoka, Chofu-shi, Tokyo 182, Japan
ABSTRACT
The existence of space wave leakage from higher or-
der modes on various planar transmission line structures
is demonstrated by numerical results based on a rigorous
mode-matching method. Transition characteristics between
the bound-wave and leaky-wave regions of the higher order
modes are illustrated and discussed for the first time. The
leaky modes on the offset groove-guide structures and those
on the planar transmission structures are compared.
INTRODUCTION
For open planar transmission line structures, wave leak-
age can occur in two forms: surface wave leakage and space
wave leakage. The surface wave leakage occurs to the domi-
nant mode of some open planar transmission structures, such
as microstrip lines, slot lines and coplanar waveguides, under
appropriate environments [l], [2]. On the other hand, it was
demonstrated by Oliner [3], and was confirmed later by a
number of other workers [4][5], that the space wave leakage
occurs to the higher order modes of microstrip lines. Both
the surface wave leakage and the space wave leakage on pla-
nar transmission structures can produce unwanted cross talk
between neighboring parts of a circuit and unexpected pack-
age effects, or can be used to create new circuit components
and antennas.
In this paper, studies on the space wave leakage from
higher order mode fields on various planar transmission struc-
tures are performed. The study is stimulated by a new un-
derstanding of the leakage mechanism of higher order modes
on the planar transmission structures. Numerical examples
given in this paper include the conductor backed microstrip
lines, slot lines and coplanar waveguides, shielded by perfect
conductor sidewalls, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the surface
wave leakage along the transverse substrate is completely
prevented. As is well known, the analysis of these structures
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CH3389-4/94/0000-1033$01.OO 0 1994 IEEE
(4 (b) (c)
Fig. 1 Sidewall shielded, conductor backed (a) microstrip
line, (b) coplanar waveguide, and (c) slot line.
can be simplified by replacing their vertical symmetric planes
with a magnetic or an electric wall for the even or the odd
modes of the structures, respectively. When it is the electric
wall (odd mode) case, we observe that the simplified struc-
tures can be viewed as variations of the offset grooveguide
leaky wave structure, whose leakage characteristics had been
studied extensively before [6]-[9].
Based on this recognition, we infer that at least higher
order odd modes on these planar transmission structures are
leaky under suitable geometric parameters, and their leak-
age mechanism is the same as that of leaky modes on the
offset groove guide leaky wave structures. Such an inference
may Seem to be quite straightforward, however, it has never
been pointed out by previous papers. We verified our judg-
ment by numerical results provided in the next section. The
analysis is performed by using a rigorous mode-matching
procedure developed before [8],[9]. Numerical results pro-
vided are the phase and leakage constants of higher order
modes on the typical planar transmission structures shown
in Fig. 1, among which the results for the coplanar waveg-
uide and the slot line are not seen in other literatures up
to now. Even for the microstrip line, the transition char-
acteristics between the bound-wave and leaky-wave regions
are also demonstrated and discussed for the first time. Fi-
nally, conclusions concerning the leaky modes on the offset
grooveguide structures and the present planar transmission
structures are drawn, which tell that studies of leaky modes
on the above two types of open structures can be compared
mutually, and many results and conclusions can be of value
to each other.
1994 IEEE MlT-S Digest
 NUMERICAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
First in Fig. 2, the frequency dependence of the nor-
malized phase constant, P / k o , and leakage constant, a / k o ,
of the first two even and two odd modes on a microstrip line
is demonstrated. The parameters of the structure are given
by the inset of Fig. 2(b), which are the same as those of
[IO] except that the structure there was closed with a top
conductor plate. The dashed and solid lines are used for the
even and the odd modes, respectively, and the results of [lo]
obtained by an integral equation method are also plotted
here with crosses and triangles.
It was demonstrated in [lo] that higher order modes of
the shielded microstrip line are the LSE and LSM modes of
the corresponding partially dielectric-loaded waveguide per-
turbed by the conductor strip. For the present case, the
top conductor is removed, and the structure becomes open.
From Fig. 2 we see that the two even modes are purely
bound waves in the whole frequency range, and their values
of phase constant vary little from those (crosses) of the closed
structure. The dispersion curves of the two odd modes also
agree well with their corresponding results (triangles) of the
closed structure when the two odd modes are in the bound-
wave region. However, they differ greatly when the values of
p / k o become less than unity, and the two odd modes of the
open structure turn into leaky waves. The leakage constants
of the two odd modes (Fig. 2(b)) are fairly large, and this
means strong leakages of power.
Another noticeable feature of the dispersion curves of the
two odd modes is the portions denoted by points A, B and
C, in which the curves double back. This is the transition re-
gion between the purely real spectral solution (bound wave)
and the complex nonspectral solution (leaky wave). Such
transition characteristics have been demonstrated and ex-
plained in detail by Lampariello et al. [7] for a partially
dielectric-loaded open guiding structure. For the present pla-
nar transmission structures, we find that our results follow
the same theory given in [7]. This can be expected since,
as stated above, the physical leakage mechanisms of leaky
modes on the two types of structures are the same. Detailed
discussion on the transition characteristics is not repeated
here, but only some brief explanations necessary for clear
understanding are given. For frequencies lower than that of
point B, the solution is complex nonspectral, representing a
leaky wave, and the leakage constant a gradually decreases
to zero as the frequency approaches the one for point B.
For frequencies greater than that of point C, the solution is
real spectral, representing a bound wave. Between the real
spectral solution (bound wave) and the complex nonspectral
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d u t i o n (leaky wave), a transition region (from point B to
point C ) exists. I t is worth noting that in the transition
region, the solution is real but nonspectral (nonphysical)
since it represents a transversely increasing wave. The width
of the transition region depends on the value of the leakage
constant a, being narrow if a is small, and vice versa [7].
Since the leakage constant of the leaky mode in [7] was very
small, the transition region there was too narrow to be seen
on the dispersion plot, except on a greatly enlarged scale.
For the present microstrip line, the transition regions for
both the two odd modes are obviously visible, because their
leakage constants are very large.
Next, the frequency dependence of /3/k, and a / k o of
higher order modes on an open coplanar waveguide is shown
in Fig. 3. We see that while the two even modes are purely
bound modes in the whole frequency range, the first three
odd modes become leaky when their values of /3/ko approach
unity. For the odd mode 1, the dispersion curve descends as
the frequency decreases, reaching a minimum point, then it
bounces back and increases rapidly. For the odd mode 2
and 3, after entering the leaky wave regions, their dispersion
curves decrease fast at first, but then descend very slowly at
lower frequencies. At the same time, their leakage constants,
a,become growing drastically. From the odd mode 1 to the
odd mode 3, the width of their transition region between the
bound-wave and leaky-wave ranges on the dispersion curve
becomes narrower and narrower, until it can not be seen on
the dispersion curve of the odd mode 3.
Finally, the variation of B / k , and a / k o of higher order
modes on a conductor backed slot line is illustrated by Fig.
4. We see that the structure shown by the inset of Fig. 4(b) is
just the same as that of the partially dielectric-loaded open
guiding structure studied in [7], except the differences be-
tween their geometric parameters and that the slot here is
symmetric. The symmetry of the structure here determines
that the dominant mode here (even mode 1)is a bound wave.
The odd mode 2 and 3, however, are leaky no matter whether
the structure is symmetric or not, and they own very large
leakage constants, as shown by Fig. 4(b). We recall that
in the offset groove guide leaky wave structure, except the
expected leaky mode, another set of leaky modes also exist
which are identified as the channel guide leaky modes [SI.
The channel guide leaky modes own relatively large leakage
constants, and are leaky no matter whether the structure is
symmetric or not. The comparison may enable us to believe
that for the offset groove guide leaky wave structure and its
variations, the channel guide (leaky) modes are actually the
higher order (leaky) modes of the corresponding structure.
With this understanding, studies on the channel guide leaky
modes can be made more convenient. For example, for the
partidy dielectric-loaded open guiding structure studied in
[7], we can first find out the higher order real modes of the
structure at higher frequencies, and then study their leak-
age characteristics in the leaky wave region by lowering the
frequency. Reversely, the results and conclusions obtained
before for the channel guide leaky modes [7],[9] can also be
of value to the study of higher order leaky modes on the
present planar structures.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors thank Professor Shanjia Xu of the Univer-
sity of Science and Technology of China, and Professor Naoto
Kishi of the University of Electro-communications for their
helpful discussions.
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3.01 I I I I
2.5
-cc*c.+--+---+-t
+ + + Ref. [lo] ‘---I
even mode 1
FREQUENCY (GHz)
(4
Fig. 2 Frequency dependence of (a) the normalized phase constant, /3/ko, and (b) leakage
constant, a / k o , of the first two even and two odd modes on a microstrip line.
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.. .
[3 ] A. A. Oliner, “Leakage from higher modes on microstlip
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9
--.
tl
0.5 - odd mode 2
FREQUENCY (GHz)
(b)
(9 ] Z. Ma and E. Yamashita, “Leakage characteristics of [lo ] E. Yamashita and K. Atsuki, “Analysis of microstrip
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Tech., vol. MTT-24, pp. 195-200, Apr. 1976.

FREQUENCY (GHz) FREQUENCY (GHz)

(a) (b)

Fig. 3 Frequency dependence of (a) the normalized phase constant, /3/ko, and (b) leak-
age constant, a/kolof the even and odd modes on a conductor backed coplanar
waveguide.

FREQUENCY (GHz) FREQUENCY (GHz)

(a) (b)
Fig. 4 Frequency dependence of (a) the normalized phase constant, /3/ko, and (b) leakage
constant, a/&,, of the even and odd modes on a conductor backed slot line.

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