Broadside-Coupled Microstrip Lines as Low Loss Metamaterial for Microwave Circuit Design

The entire microwave theory is based on Maxwells equations, whereas the entire electronic circuit theory is based on Kirchhoffs electrical current and voltage laws. In this paper, we show that the traditional microwave design methodology can be simplified based on a broadside-coupled microstrip line as a low loss metamaterial. That is, Kirchhoffs laws are still valid in the microwave spectrum for narrowband signals around various designated frequencies. The invented low loss metamaterial has been theoretically analyzed, simulated, and experimentally verified in both time and frequency domains. It is shown that the phase velocity of a sinusoidal wave propagating on the low loss metamaterial can approach infinity, resulting in time-space shrink to a singularity as seen from the propagating wave perspective.Funding Agencies|Faculty of Science and Engineering at Linkoping University, Sweden; China Scholarship Council [201706075057]</p