Current Distribution and Kinetic Inductance of Coplanar Waveguide Transmission Lines

Analysis of superconducting circuits requires knowledge of current density distribution in the film cross section. This article aims to investigate the current density distribution in superconducting coplanar waveguides (SCPWs), a basic component with increasing use in microwave integrated circuits. In this regard, first, the CPW is mapped to a pair of parallel plates and the vector potential is described through the Green's function concept. Then, based on the Green's function and utilizing London's second equation, an integral equation is formed which yields the current density distribution. The procedure is verified by COMSOL Multiphysics software. Examining the current density for several SCPWs shows that as the gap is reduced, the SCPW experiences much more current density especially at the edges. Based on the proposed procedure, the kinetic inductance of SCPW is examined, which is another focus of the article. In this article, for several CPWs with different aspect ratios, the kinetic inductance is evaluated and discussed. Results show that as the ratio is increased, the kinetic inductance is decreased.