On the Use of Ridge Waveguides to Synthesize Impedances

This work examines the feasibility of designing an impedance synthesis network based on a double-ridge waveguide (DRW). This design is based on the concept of the stepped-impedance line transformer as a cascade of transmission lines with different characteristic impedances, but using, in this particular case, a stepped-ridge waveguide. It is shown that this structure is able to synthesize not only real impedances but an arbitrary impedance, following some restrictions explained in this paper. An impedance synthesis network based on DRW can have numerous applications, like being used in designing amplifiers, which would eventually make possible to integrate amplifiers in waveguide technology.