Analysis of Dielectric Loss in a Helix Slow-wave Structure

Equivalent circuit analysis of a helix slow-wave structure was carried out and closed form expressions were derived for the shunt capacitance and shunt conductance per unit length of the transmission-line equivalent circuit of the structure. These equivalent circuit parameters were interpreted for the dielectric attenuation constant of the slow-wave structure. The analysis was computationally simple and showsed excellent agreement with published results. The analysis was furthered for predicting the dielectric loss in typical C-Ku band and Ka band helical slow-wave structures, and variation of dielectric loss with temperature.