Signal Amplification in a Time-Modulated Transmission Line and the Loss Effect

Abstract: We investigate and simulate signal amplification in a transmission line (TL) with time-modulated characteristic impedance Zo. Periodically varying $Z_o$ is achieved by loading TL with a sinusoidally time-modulated capacitor (TMC). For a detailed study, three models are considered: a lossless L-C TL lumped model loaded with shunt infinite quality factor (Q) TMC, a TL loaded with a shunt infinite Q TMC, and finite Q TMC. By solving the eigenvalue problem in all models, dispersion diagrams (DD) are plotted with a created momentum band gap (MBG) at a modulation frequency double the signal frequency. Within MBG, only imaginary frequencies are found and correlated to MBG width and signal growth level. Using Harmonics Balance (HB) and Transient Simulation (TS), signal amplification is confirmed, and the obtained results are consistent with the DD outcomes. In the second model, the effect of TL length on amplification is investigated and explained by studying the unit cell's Bloch impedance. The loss effect is considered by adding a series resistance (Rc) to the third model's TMC (finite Q). Decreasing amplification levels, confirmed by circuit modeling, due to the increase of Rc value is explained by studying real and imaginary DDs and the attenuation constant.