The fundamental electromagnetic wave of a single-wire line in a weakly absorbing medium

An approximate dispersion equation valid over a wide frequency range is obtained from the dispersion equation for the symmetric E ₀₀ wave (the Sommerfeld wave) propagating along a finite-conductance metal wire embedded in a lossy dielectric. The boundaries of this frequency range are determined. A technique is developed for solution of the obtained approximate dispersion equation in the frequency band where the pronounced skin effect is observed. The ratio of the wire radius to the thickness of the skin layer is assumed to be no less than 10. This technique is applied to calculate the longitudinal and transverse propagation constants for 1.0-and 2.5-mm-radii copper wires over the frequency range 0.5 MHz to 1000 GHz.