Microwave inductance of thin metal strips

TL;DR

This study measures the microwave impedance of thin metal strips across a broad frequency range, confirming theoretical RCL models and analyzing how geometric and material properties influence resistance, inductance, and capacitance.

Contribution

It provides experimental validation of RCL models for thin metal strips at microwave frequencies and explores how physical dimensions affect their electromagnetic properties.

Findings

Resistance scales inversely with cross-sectional area.

Inductance depends on strip width but not on thickness for small thickness.

Experimental data agrees with theoretical RCL predictions.

Abstract

We have measured the frequency-dependent, complex impedance of thin metal strips in a broad range of microwave frequencies (45~MHz to 20~GHz). The spectra are in good agreement with theoretical predictions of an RCL model. The resistance, inductance, and capacitance, which govern the microwave response, depend on the strip width and thickness as well as on the strip and substrate materials. While the strip resistance scales inversely with the cross section, the inductance depends on the width of the strip, but not on the thickness (in the limit of small thickness).