Analysis of errors in transient disturbance measurements using high-pass probes

Transients are measured using a wide variety of devices with a known transfer function (voltage probes, current probes, baluns) to couple a disturbed conductor to the measuring apparatus. Most measuring devices are shown to be accurately represented by a single analytical model consisting of a first-order or second-order high-pass network, thus permitting accurate analytical and numerical determination of the output waveform for the more interesting input waveforms, i.e. unidirectional transients (double exponentials) or ringing transients (damped sines and cosines). The distortion at the output results in errors of the more common parameters used to specify the disturbances, namely, peak value, average rate of rise, integral of the squared voltage, impulse strength, and undershoot. These parameters are computed and shown in graphical form. Simplified asymptotic treatment is also offered for the determination of the output waveshape for early times and late times.