Propagation of Signals in Nonlinear Transmission Lines

This communication reports the results of a theoretical investigation of the propagation of signals in transmission lines whose nonlinear parameters are distributed capacitance and conductance. Such lines have their physical counterpart in lossless transmission lines that are loaded with closely spaced transistor bases or junction diodes, and in waveguides filled with certain ferroelectric ceramic materials. The analysis is carried out by conventional perturbation theory, and therefore the nonlinearities and dissipation are necessarily assumed to be small. The conditions for the formation of shock waves in such lines are also derived.