Lateral electromagnetic waves and pulses on open microstrip

The propagation of lateral electromagnetic waves and pulses on microstrip is investigated. Interference patterns generated by the superposition of the lateral and direct waves along the air-substrate surface are shown. The field generated by the pulse excitation of a horizontal dipole on the air-substrate boundary is shown to consist of a lateral-wave pulse and a slower direct-wave pulse. Their differences in shape and decay rate are clarified. It is shown that the shape of a Gaussian pulse propagating along an open microstrip transmission line is closely related to the shape of the lateral electric-field pulse generated by a Gaussian current pulse in a dipole on the air-substrate boundary