Surface wave excitation from open microstrip discontinuities

Radiation properties of open microstrip discontinuities are investigated using a full-wave integral equation technique. Formulas are presented to characterize power loss from open microstrip discontinuities. The technique utilizes microstrip current distributions obtained with the method of moments. The formulas allow the separation of total loss into the individual contributions of space wave and surface wave radiation and indicate the direction in which surface wave power is propagating within the substrate. Patterns depicting the power propagating in the substrate have been computed and verified experimentally.<
>