88 IRE TRAhrSACTIONS ON CIRCUIT THEORY June

TLe Scattering Matrix in Network Theory*

HERBERT J. CARLINt

If the system operates with open:circuited ports, the

HIS PAPER is designed to give an introductory open- circuit impedance parameters are convenient to
‘discussion of the properties of the scattering matrix. describe the network performance. If th? ports are short-
The formalism is defined and the properties of the . circuited the short-circuit admittances are the logical
scattering array are examined. The way in which these quantities to use. Similarly the interconnection of sets of
properties are applied to ne’twork problems is then briefly networks often determines the most useful network
considered. The main emphasis is on algebraic and con- description. Thus series aild parallel interconnections are
ceptual aspects of the scattering matrix and though most readily described respectively in terms of impedances
examples are given to illustrate the main points it is the and admittances, whereas structures cascaded on an
papers which follow [l-5] that ‘examine in detail various input-output basis are usually .best handled with the
applications. It is’hoped that a reader who encounters transmission matrix. (The ABCD parameters of a Z-port
the scattering matrix here for the first time &ill, with the are a, specific example of this type of array). Each of
. aid of this introductory paper, be able ,to follow the other these sets of parameters provides a group of linear relation-
articles in this issue. ships between the currents and voltages at the accessible
The earliest use of scattering parameters1 appears to be ports of the network. It is possible to use other variables
the article by Campbell and Foster [G] which deals with which are linear combinations of the voltages and currents
properties of ideal transformer networks which, with and in these terms to write network equations which
prescribed resistive loads, are simultaneously matched describe the system. Thus in the method of symmetrical
at all ports. Many specific relations between the scattering components used by power engineers, voltages and
coefficients are considered, in that. article, though’ the currents are subjected to a liqear transformation whose
general properties of the.scattering matrix as a whole are coefficients are determined by- the cube roots of unity.
not mentioned:There appears to have been little further Again in this case the particular set of variables and
done along these lines, (though many of the classic texts network parameters are most convenient for the type of
of transmission line theory use reflection and transmission 6-port symmetrical structures encountered in the study
coefficients to describe wave propagation on transmission of three-phase systems subjected to unbalanced excitation.
lines) until the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. At that time The point that is being made here is that there is no
scattering relations in wave-particle scatter problems were single network formalism that is always best, but that a
utilized .by physicists in a fashion similar to that employed variety of choices are available to fit specific types of
by network theorists. Schutzer-Tiomno [7] discuss aspects problems.
of this and *give references that date as far back as 1927. The scattering parameters form a matrix of transforma-
Physicists familiar with these concepts were active at the tiori between variables which are linear combinations of
Radiation Laboratories of M.I.T. in the early 1940’s and the voltages and currents in a network. They are .-particu-
applied .scattering concepts to the study of waveguide larlysuitable for-problems of power transfer in networks
jundtions. Much df this work was given in unpublished designed to be ter%d by resistive loads. Thus the
re’ports but an. excellent summary appears in Montgomery, scattering formalism finds convenient application in
Dicke, and Purcell [8]. This point of view is al& adapted problems which involve insertion loss (e.g., filters, attenu-
in ‘an early article by Tomonaga [9]. Independently, ators, and attenuation equalizers) and matching networks.
Belevitch was studying lumped networks from a scattering They are also utilized in the study of matched n ports
’ point of view and some of the results of his 1945 doctoral and biconjugate networks. The latter group of circuits is
dissertation at Louvain were published later [lo, 111. the general classification under which various types of
These explore problems’ of physical realizability and the balanced bridges and transformer hybrid circuits are
included. -J
synthesis of ideal transformer networks.
Because the scattering parameters are so closely asso-
APPLICABILIT? OF SCATTERING PARAMETERS ciated with the. power transfer properties of a network
A linear electrical network having n-accessible terminal they permit the formulation of concise and useful expres-
pairs (an n port) may be analyzed in a variety of ways. sions for the conservation of energy constraints in passive
struc.tures. They are, therefore, particularly suitable for
the statement of network realizability requirements in the
* hlanuscript received by the PGCT; March 9, 1956. frequency domain and hence are useful in network
t Microwave Research Inst., Polytechnic Inst. of Brooklyn, N. Y.
1 It must be emphasized immediately, that the scattering descrip- synthesis problems, particularly those that involve
tion differs completely from the ABCD formalism, even though a lossless networks. In addition the scattering parameters
few authors recent.ly have used the terms synonymously. Historically
there is no basis for such usage. possess another important property useful in general
1956 d Carlin: The Scattering Mctrix in Network Theory 89

passive synthesis studies. The scattering parameters currents may also be.used, but are’not considered here).
‘exist for every physical passive network including ideal As a matter of definition these quantities are a linear
%ansformer networks, structures made up of direct combination of the ordinary voltage and current v’ and
wiring interconnections often representative of many i’ measured at the terminals of a one-port (driving point
forms of waveguide junction, networks containing short- impedance) :
circuited and open-circuited branches etc. Such networks
v’ = -\/r, [Vi + vr] (14
generally do not possess impedance and/or admittance
matrices but can always be represented with scattering
z” - * [ff, - vr].
coefficients.
In the case of distributed parameter (transmission line)
If normalized voltage and current are defined as
systems, scattering coefficients represent ratios between
complex incident and reflected wave amplitudes so that
aside from their general advantages discussed above they
v = --
& ’
(24
are directly applicable to the physical description of wave
propagating structures. Finally since these parameters
i=ifz/r, (2b)
are direct measures of return loss and forward transmission then vi and v, may be determined from (l).’
they find use in the study of active systems such as
feedback amplifiers. (34
Each of the general fields of application discussed above
is considered in some detail in the papers which follow. 1 2)’
Belevitch [2] considers many cases of the application ?f 21,= - ( - - -3/K) = ; (v - i). (3b)
2 dro ’
scattering matrices to lumped networks including stability
problems in specific types of feedback amplifier. In his The reflection factor or scattering coefficient of the one-
second paper, Belevitch [3] examines the concept of linear port is
transformations of network voltage and current variables
and relates this to the scattering matrix and a chain
matrix (analogous to the ABCD matrix) variant of the
scattering matrix. This is then used to simplify the syn- where z is the normalized impedance of the one-port
thesis of reactance 2-ports. Oono [3] shows how the related to the total impedance z al-r‘d .to s by-: _
scattering matrix may be applied in an elegant fashion to I I
the frequency domain synthesis of general linear passive x=y=L=5=-.. 1. + s
(5)
YLports 6f both the reciprocal and nonreciprocal types, and z z r. r. 1-S
obtains a general synthesis technique for all passive, In the preceding equations r0 is a real normalizing
linear, lumped n ports. number which is a constant of the transfoimatipn (1)
The last two papers exploit %the scattering matrix for but is otherwise arbitrary (though once chosen it is fixed).
various network problems in wave propagating systems. The specifications of the problem under analysis generally
Kahn [4] shows how symmetry properties of various indicate the most convenient value for r,. Thus if a gener-
waveguide junctions can lead to orthogonal transforma- ator of internal resistance r, feeds a load impedance it is
tions on the scattering matrix, which in turn permit the usually simplest to use r, = r,.
determination of simplified equivalent circuits for these A way of interpreting the normalization indicated by
junctions in terms of hybrid coil networks. These results (2) and (5) is to observe that if a modified network, is
are not necessarily confined to waveguide systems but formed by connecting an ideal transformer to the load
apply in modified form to lumped structure’s possessing of turns ratio I/ 4; ( winding with z/T, turns across
the requisite symmetry properties. Treuhaft [5] shows how load) then this-modified circuit is the normalized network
the symmetry properties of the scattering matrix of a and (3) and (4) apply directly to the quantities measured
new and important class of nonreciprocal network, the at its terminals.
circulator, now finding considerable application at micro- The incident voltage at the terminals of the most
wave frequencies (though not necessarily confined to that genkral one-port when a generator of real internal imped-
frequency region), may be used to determine equivalent ance ri and open circuit voltage v: excites the circuit may
circuits, properties of interconnected circulator networks b’e readily computed. Retiresent the given one-port
and related information. The method used is analogous to network (which may have internal geneiators) by. its
that employed by Kahn [4] for reciprocal networks, and Th6vinin . equivalent consisting of an impedance Z’ in
exploits the properties of cyclic groups.
2 It maJ’ be noted that the dimensions of U; and z+ are (volt-
SCATTEIZINGRELATIOXS FOR A ONE-PORT amps)l’*. The definitions are actually formulated to assure this, so
that j U, I2 and 12rVI* can have the dimensions of power. The terminol-
ogy “reflected and incident voltages” stems from the fact, that these
The scattering variables; vi and v, are termed the quantities, though not voltages, were originally associated with
reflected I and incident voltages. (Reflected and incident normalized voltage wave amplitudes on txansmiaslon lines.
. *
 .
90 IRE TRANSACTIONS ON CIRCUIT THEORY June
series with a voltage source vi. Then the total current SCATTERING RELATIONS IN AN n PORT NI?TWORK
and voltage at the terminals of the network are given as:
Consider the physical passive network N’ of Fig. l(a)”
I I which may or may not possess an impedance or admittance
il _- vw - VL
r: + z’ matrix. At each port the voltages and currents may be
represented according to (1) in terms of incident and
v’ = (4 - VW + vt . reflected voltages provided a set of real normalization
r; + 2’ numbers r,k is selected, one number for’ each port. We
Substituting these in (3a) seek a representation of the linear transformation between
the vi-h and v,-~ of the form“
*.I = - 1
22/T, [
v:(z’ + r,) + vtc4
r; + x’
- To>
.I v, = xv,
where the capital letters indicate ‘matrices, that is Vi is
02)

= 1 v,(z + 1) + VL(%- 1) .
2 r. + 2 1 the column matrix of incident voltages at the ports, V, is
the one column array of reflected voltages,and S = (aik)
When the normalized generator impedance is unity (i.e., is a square matrix of scattering coefficients. The scattering
the normalizing number is r0 = r:), the incident voltage matrix X of the network N’ may be .determined in the
reduces to following manner.

In this case the incident voltage is half the normalized

generator voltage and is independent of any of the prop-
erties of the load.
It is important to express the power delivered to a
load in scattering terms. If v’ and i’ are the actual load
voltages, then

P = Re [i’*v’] = Re (i*v) = Re [(vi - v,)*(vi + v,)]

=. / vi I2 7 1v, y. ’ (7) Fig. l-Formation of .augmented network: (a) 72 port network,
(b) network with generators, (c) normalized augmented network. .
Using 21, = svi from (4), (7) becomes

P = 1 vi I2 (1 - [ 8 I”). (8)
Connect a generator of internal voltage vi-, to port 1,
If a generator vi of internal impedance r, = r0 excites vL+ to port 2, etc. The internal resistances of these genera-
the load, the maximum power delivered (the available tors are chosen to equal the respective port normalization ’
generator power) is, using (6), numbers rO;, roz, . . . , Ton. The network made up of the
given structure N’ and the resistors rok connected in
series with the various ports is the augmented network
Nd shown in Fig. l(b). The short circuit admittance
so that the important result is obtained matrix Y1: of Nd always exists if N’ is passive, and

P I’ = Ydv; (13)
-= l- Isj2 (10)
PA. where VL is the matrix of generator voltages and I’ the
clearly for passive structures P/P, 5 1 ‘at all real fre- set of total currents into the ports of NL and N’.5 The
quencies, hence the amplitude of Is( is bounded normalized set of voltages and currents V, and I may be
written [refer to (2)J
I4.alll. _ p)
The scattering coefficient s may therefore be interpreted 3 As in the second section primed quantities refer to nonnormalized
entities and unprimed to normalized entities.
as a measure of a load’s deviation from maximum power 4 It is possible to determine input-output relations between the
transfer conditions. When s = o (load matched to the ZJ-~ and a?-k and thus obtain an input-output form for the scattering
equations which bears the same relatipn to (12) as the A4RCD matrix
real generator impedance rl = r,) maximum, power is bears to the impedance formulation of the network equations. [See
transferred; when s = 1 (load purely reactive) the power bibliography references 2, 8, and 251.
5 A structure dual to that of Fig. 1 (b) may also be considered in
. transfer ratio is zero. For this, reason the return loss = which resistors r,k are connected in shunt with the ports of N’. This
20 log ) l/s] db is used as’ a measure of the inefficiency of a leads to an augmented impedance matrix and the relation V’ =
Z,‘I,’ where I,’ is a set of constant current generators. The develop-
network in transferring available power. ment from this equation exactly parallels that given in the text.
.

D .
1956 Carlin: The Scattering Matrix <n Network Theory 91

v, = (%4Tpv: (144 S - (E + Y)-‘(E - Y) = (E - Y)(E + Y)-‘. (24)

I= (VZJI 04b) Also from (22) ’ ,
where R, is a diagonal matrix, R, = diag (rO1,r02, . . . , r,,). S = 2(E + Y)-’ - E. (25)
Thus (13) becomes
Inverting (22), (23), (24), (25) gives 2 or Yin terms of S.
I = dR, Y: dg V, = YJ, (15)
and Z = 2(E - S)-’ - E = (E + S)(E - S)-’

Y, = dgY;dg (16) = (E - S)-‘(E + S) (26)

is the normalized augmented admittance matrix. Y = 2(E + S)-’ - E = (E - S)(E + S)-’
Just as was done for the normalized-impedance of (5), = (E + S)-‘(E - S) (27)
Y, of (16) may be interpreted by connecting l/ drOk
ra,tio transformers across the various ports of N’ to form N. and Y’ or 2’ can then be found from (21).
The normalized augmented network N, is then N with The relations (22) to (27) are valid whether the net-
a unit resistor in series with each port, and the currents work N’ is reciprocal or not. However it is evident that
and voltages at the ports of N, are normalized quantities if N’ obeys the law of reciprocity, YA is a symmetric
related as in (15). \ admittance matrix and therefore by (19) S must also be
Referring to (6) and,noting that all ports of the nor- symmetric in the reciprocal case.
malized network N are;excited by one ohm generators, As an example of the determination of the scattering
the column matrix V, is r::lated to the incident voltages by matrix for a given network consider the three winding
transformer, 4-port circuit of Fig. 2(a). Ports 1 and 2 are
v, = 2v,. (174 to be normalized to rO1 = r02 = b, and ports 3 and 4 to unity..
Further, at each port of N the incident and reflected This structure has no impedance or admittance matrix
voltages are related to the normalized current by and (19) will be used to compute S. If the network is
z,, = Vi-k - v,+ so that augmented with ideal transformers and unit resistors as
previously discussed the network N, of Fig. 2(b) is obtained
I =-vi - v,. (17b) with the port 1 ideal transformer absorbed by changing
Substituting (17a) and (17b) into (15) and rearranging the turns ratio of the three winding transformer from
terms gives: 1:l:l to I/& :l:l as indicated in the diagram. To
compute the admittance matrix Y,, short circuit all
V;= [E - ZY,]Vi (18) but one of the ports of the augmented network and find
where E is the identity matrix. Thus by (12) the scattering voltage-current ratios between this port and the others.

f
matrix may be. determined as

S = E - 2Y,. (19)
+. . 3)
If the network N’ has an impedance matrix Z’, (19)
readily leads to an expression for S in terms of 2’. Thus

YA = (E + Z)-’ (20)
L(2)
(‘)I.t- t
where 2 is the’normalized open circuit
i.e., the impedance matrix of N
impedance matrix;
-;I;’ (0)
(4,

(b)
z = %4iy’ .272/aa-’ (214 Fig. 2-Analysis of hybrid coil: (a) hybrid coil circuit, (b) augmented
network for scattering computation.
also

Y = d%Y’diE. @lb) Thus if v, is impressed the transformer introduces the

Then constraints,

S = E - 2(E + 2)-l. (22)

Multiplying both sides of (22) by (E + Z)-’ and
rearranging terms one obtains an alternate expression: va=vb= z/bv,=i,~b=(i,+i,)b+i, (2W
S = (Z,+ E)-‘(2 - E) = (2 - E)(Z + E)-‘. (23) where the quantities used are indicated in Fig. 2(b). Sub-
stituting (28a) into (28b) gives
In terms of the admittance matrix of N, Y = 2-l one
obtains 2, = 0.
 92 / IRE TRANXACTIQNS ON CIRCUIT THEORY June

Thus the admittance at port 3 of the normalized aug- given and the preassigned normalizing numbers
mented network must be f-01, ro2, . . ., are known. Suppose normalized impedances
.zk = x:/T,~ terminate the various ports of the normalized
1
Y33 -- ___ = y44 (29) network. Then at the kth port the voltage’ across the
1 + 2b
load is vk and the current into the load is -i,. The reflection
and factor of the load sk is, therefore, by (4)

y43 = y34 = 0. (30) Vk + &

Sk=-=--- Vi--k
(39)
vk - tk V,-h
Further since Y,~ = ysl = -i,/v,

-i,
where viMk and v+ are the incident and reflected voltages
7J13 = y31 = ~ = --- 4
(31) at the kth port referred to the.network. The boundary
1 1+2b.
23 - conditions of (39) when substituted into (12) determine
3 Y33 >
the network performance. For example suppose it is
and required to find the ratio of incident to reflected voltage
of a 2-port terminated in a load of reflection factor sZ.
-i z/b
=3=--&=~ -i -db
Y23 = Y32 Y (32) Then writing out (12) for the two port:
V3 v3 13=1+-
217-l = S11Vi-1 + S13Vi-2 = S112)i-1 + S1&21,-3 (394
From symmetry considerations it is also clear that
Y 24 = - y23 and y13 = y14 hence V~-3 = SalVi-l f S22Vi--2 = S2,Vi-, $- S32S2Vr-= (3W

Z/b and solving (39b) for v,-~ and substituting into (39a)
Y24 = Y42 = ~ (33)
l+b gives as the resultant input reflection factor s~,-~ of the
.
terminated two-port
y14 = y41 = -,$
-. (34)
V,-1 S12&1S2
sin-1 = y = Sll + . (40)
I I 1 - s2&
In a similar fashion the other elements of Y, can be
computed, or it is even simpler to note that if port 1 is The ratio v,-,/v~-~ is also readily found as:
excited then because of symmetry the current in short
circuited port 2 is zero hence:

y 11 L-, 1
-
1 (35) If sZ = 0 (i.e., 2, = 1) then (40) and (41) reduce to
I+26 Sin-1 = .s,~, t = szl. In this case vi-Z = 0 and v,-~ = vz,
.
so that if a normalized unit impedance generator excites
YlZ = y21 = 0 (36) port 1 with port 2 terminated in a unit normalized load
the ratio
and by the same reasoning (i.e., since i6 = 0 with port 2
excited) V,-2 ES --= V2
*I - v,-1 2
2 2 = 2P21. (42)
vi-1 s2=o
1
y2i = -. (37)
1 Thus in general the scattering coefficient ski may be
1+3
. interpreted as twice the complex voltage transfer ratio
pki of the normalized network when it is terminated at all .
Using (19), the scattering matrix is readily determined
ports in unit resistive loads and fed at port .i by a unit
as:
resistive generator. The nonnormalized network when
(Y 0 P P terminated in rol, ro2, . .,a has actual voltage transfer
ratios given by
0 ff P-P
s= WW I 1
P p --a! -0 pLi = z = 5 Ski (43)
p -0’ -0 -a
(obviously p& # pik even in reciprocal networks, though
with for reciprocal systems pik = pki).
1 - 2b The power transfer ratio, referred to generator available
a=l+ (38b) power, between ports j and Ic terminated in r,i and rok is

-. 22/b
@=1+2t,
or
The performance of an n port network is readily com-
puted for arbitrary terminations if its scattering matrix is Gii = Gki = 1 ski 1’. (44)
1956 Carlin:. The Scattering Matrix in Network Theory 93

Thus Iski\’ is identical to the available gain of a network

between prescribed terminations and unlike the voltage
transfer ratio has the same value kopr normalized and
nonnormalized systems. Thus when the insertion loss of a
transducer (& = 20 log l/ls,,l) for prescribed terminations
is specified this immediately determines the amplitude where
of the scattering coefficient 1~~~1.
tik = roi
--. - rok
The method of computing the scattering performance roi + rok
of terminated networks as outlined above may be extended
to the interconnection of n ports, and general relations for If the changes in image impedances are not too great
this have been derived by Dicke [la] and Laemmel [13]. from section to section; i.e., tik << 1, the denominator of.
As an example of the application of the scattering k,, is unity to a good, approximation and
coefficients to a problem with mismatched terminations lc,, = t,z + t,,E-‘2m.
Consider the. design of an impedance matching transformer
between resistors R: = roO and R: = roS,+l. The trans- Continuing this process one obtains for the input reflection
former network is to be a cascade of symmetric all-pass factor at the last network (normalized to ro,n+l)
or lossless filter sections with varying image impedances, k,, = k,+l,,+l = t,,,+i + t”-,*nc-in+ + * * .* i t01t-izn9.
and thus each section can be designed without transformer
elements. The final structure is thus a transformerless As discussed at the end of the second section, lci, measures
approximation to. an ideal transformer over a finite band. the deviation from matched conditions. Thus it is required
that this quantity approximate .zero over the band of
interest. This can be done on an equal ripple basis, for
.example, by transforming .the expression for Ic,, into a
polynomial and equating coefficients with the Tchebycheff
polynomials. To do this make pairs of coefficients equal;
e.g.,
= toI =
t 7L.?L+1 t,, t,-,,, = t,z = t,-,, etc.
This gives an expression of the form
Fig. 3-Broad-band approximation to ideal transformer.
tl COSC$,+ t3 cos 34 + . . . + t, cosm$; n odd
k<, = &-‘“o
1 to + t, cos2+ + -.* + t, cosn&; n even
Alternately it is the basis for the design of stepped trans-
mission line matching transformers [14]. Fig. 3 schematic- and if 5 = LY.cos 4, so that at the low frequency cutoff
ally indicates the cascaded networks. Each one is presumed point w,, with & = &we),. I(: = 1 and a! = l/cos &, the
perfectly transmitting in the band of interest when final polynomial form is obtained with cos k+ expanded
terminated in its image impedance rok. Thus each of the in powers of cos 4. Thus
sections has sll = 0, slZ = c-i+ (i.e., pure phase shift
without attenuation) when the scattering coefficients are 3 1 kin I = T aixn
determined with the image impedance as normalizing
numbers. The reflection factor at the terminals of 1, and the ai’s are directly related to the t’s and may be
(ro, as normalizing number) is by (4) equated to suitable coefficients of normalized Tchebycheff
polynomials for equal ripple response,, or to 1 + Zn for
Too
-- 1 maximally flat response. This determines the numbers rOk
h”; =’ TOI
7-. and hence leads to the final network design.
z + 1
CONSTRAINTS ON S DUE TO ENERGY CONSERVATION
Then using (40) with sll = 0, slZ = cmim, the input The amplitude of a single scattering coefficient is con-
reflection (normalized to r,,,) to network 1 is strained to be less than unity by conservation of energy \
requirements, [see (lo), (1 l)] and similar considerations
give analogous results for an n port network. The real
power absorbed in the network
the resultant total impedance found by (5) is:
P = Re IfeT V’ = Re I*TV =‘VtTVi - VTTV, (45)
1 + k2,
2: = 1 _ k,, To1 where the superscript T means matrix transpose. Using (12)
I’ = VTT[E - s*‘s]v, = V,*‘QVi (46)
and the reflection factor terminating * network (2) (nor-
malized to roz) is ~ Q = E - STS.
a
94 IRE TRANSACTIONS ON CIRCUIT THEORY ’ June

This is an hermitian form which is real for all complex matched input (sll = 0). Then since the principal minors
Vi and when expanded has the form of Q ‘must be positive

P = C V~-F_iV<-kQjk (47) det Q = det I E -“S*TS.I

i.k

the terms of this are either real (j = k) or occur in con- = (1 - I s121~~0- I s12I - I szz17- -ioh 122 0
jugate pairs for which the imaginary part cancels out. or
Q is the hermitian matrix of the form and its elements
I Sl2 I2 i 1 - I s22 I. (52a)
satisfy
Thus the power transfer [see (44)] in a matched 2-port is
Qik = qk?, qkk = real number (4W limited by the back end scattering coeflicient of the net-
or work. Suppose that such a network is loaded with a
parasitic capacitance C at port 2 and it is required to
Q*’ = Q. W-W design the structure as a flat gain low-pass network with
Since P 2 0 for all Vi, (45) is a positive (meaning either constant input resistance and- cutoff at w,. It is readily
positive definite .or positive semidefinite) hermitian form shown [16] that the back end reflection factor must
and Q is a *positive hermitian matrix [15]. The test for Q satisfy the integral relation
as a positive matrix is that its principal minors arranged
in ascending order from the upper left hand corner be all
nonnegative.
If the network is lossless then P = 0 and by (45) The second expression of (526) follows since ]sZ2] is constant
Q = 0. In this case therefore in the pass band and zero elsewhere if the limiting value
of (52a) is to be realized. Thus for unit bandwidth the
S*TS = E (lossless network). (49) limiting value of flat power gain by (52a) and (52b) is
A matrix which satisfies (49) is a unitary matrix, and if its
1 S12 I2 = 1 - E-r’C. (53)
elements are real, as in (38a), the matrix is orthogonal. For
a scattering matrix*of order n (49) may be expanded to give In the case of a lossless structure, the input cannot be .
Sq.tS,i = 6ij i,i’= 1,2 > .-* ,n matched over the band, and the power gain is limited by
(50)
F (51b) with (52b) still valid. In that case the maximum
with value of flat gain for unit bandwidth is

1, i - j
aii L
1 0, i # j. and the improved insertion loss of a lossless structure is
readily computed .from these two equations. It should be
It should be pointed out that these results (i.e., the
emphasized that the results are obtained in particularly
positive nature of Q for dissipative networks, or the unitary
simple form because the quantity of engineering interest,
character of S for lossless networks) ‘are valid for all
power gain, is immediately identified with Is~~(‘. The
passive networks whether reciprocal or not, and whether
algebraic comfilications of any other network formalism
or not the impedance and/or admittance matrix exists.
for problems of this sort would be such as to prevent the
In the case of a lossless reciprocal (sip = szl) two-port,
determination of concrete results. The application of these
(49) gives .
techniques to the general theory of lossless matching
networks is given by Fano [lS] and for the case of dissipa-
tive structures by LaRosa and Carlin [17, 181.
(1%2I2+ I h2 I2 = 1 @lb) An interesting application .of the scattering matrix is
SlTS12
+ Gs22= 0. (5lc) to lossless networks which are simultaneously matched
at all ports when these are terminated in prescribed
Thus the amplitudes of input and output scattering resistors rol, roZ, . . . . These are the maximum output
coefficients must be equal networks discussed by Campbell and Foster [6] and all
I Sll 1 = 1S22’1 (514 have main diagonal scattering coefficients Sii = 0. Using
the unitary relations, (49) or (50), it is readily shown that
and (51~) yields an additional phase constraint on the a matched lossless three port which is reciprocal is not a
scattering coefficients of a lossless two port physically realizable passive network. Thus for
411 = ?&2 - 4% + ,r (514 811 = s22 = .s& = 0,

where sii = ]sii/ eidii. (50) gives

As an example of the application of these results to a
dissipative structure suppose a two-port is to be designed I Sl2‘ I2 + J s13 I2 = 1 s1.2 J2 + j .L& I2
for operation between resistive terminations with a L I s13I2-k l s23l2 = 1 i=j
1956 Carlin: The Scattering Matrix in Network Theory 95

modes of the augmented network (in this case a one-port) it

must be analytic in the interior of the right half p plane.
If the network contains only lumped elements (i.e.,
s(p) is then rational and has only pole type singularities)
but s(p) because of its boundedness on jo together with its
rationality must be analytic for Re p 2. 0. It is therefore
S&*3 = 0 i = 1, j=2
possible to apply the maximum.modulus theorem so that
and this latter relation requiring /a131 or [sZ31 to be zero
is inconsistent with the previous one, hence the unitary 1 4~) I 5 1 Re P 2 0. (55)
requirements cannot be satisfied. If the network is non- From (55) it is clear that the right half of the p plane
reciprocal (sii # sii) it is possible to form a 3-port maxi- including jw is carried into or on the unit circle in s.
mum output network but this must have a scattering As an example of the application of (55) (which was
matrix with a single unit element in every row and column. derived without any recourse to impedance concepts) it
This is the 3-port circulator [9]. Networks of this type is quite simple to derive the necessity of the positive real
are further discussed in Treuhaft’s paper [5]. requirement for lumped driving point impedance functions.
The hybrid coil circuit of Fig. 2(a) with proper termina- Normally this requires a rather long energy argument, for
tions is an example of a reciprocal 4-port maximum output although Re x(p) 2 0 for p = Jo, the minimum real part
network. Thus in (38a) if theorem does not apply since x(p) may have boundary
poles.
a = 0, By analytic continuation (5) is valid in Re p > 0 so that

and Re’x(p) = m , p =, u -k $4 (56)

S

and by (55) the numerator of (56) is nonnegative for

u > 0, hence

Re 4~1 2 0 u 2 0.
S=
With the addition of the requirements that s(p) be
rational with real coefficients, (55) is both necessary and
sufficient for the realizability of a one port network.
Belevitch [20] extended this to the case of n port lumped
reciprocal networks, and Oono and Yasurra [3, 211 to
Thus all ports are simultaneously matched [sii = 0] if nonreciprocal n port lumped ‘networks. Whether ‘the
t’he terminations are r,, = ro2 = 2, 1 ro3 = ro4 = 1. Net- network is reciprocal or not the theorem takes the following
works of this type are used in telephone practice (the form :
hybrid coil), and at microwave frequencies (the magic T), The necessary and suficient conditions that a lumped,
and their application is further discussed in Kahn’s linear, finite, passive n port network be physically realizable
paper [4]. It is noted. that this 4-port is decoupled between with positive resistors, coils, condensers, ideal transformers,
ports 1 and 2, and 3 and 4. This is the so-called biconjugate and gyrators (if nonreciprocal) is that:
property of all maximum output 4-ljorts [6, 81. Further-
more the elements of S in the above case are real (S is a) X(p), the scattering matrix, contain real rational func-
orthogonal). It can be shown that as a consequence of this tions of the complex variable p.
orthogonality, the general class of n port maximum b) (E - S*T(p) X(p)), p = n + jq be a positive her-
output reciprocal networks with real scattering coefficients mitian matrix for all g > 0.
is only realizable when n is even [6, 81. This is proved by The analyticity of all the sii (p) in u 2 0 is readily deduced
utilizing an algebraic property of a unitary (orthogonal as a consequence of this theorem. In terms of boundary
matrix) which states that the sum of its diagonal elements behavior an alternate form. of the theorem is readily
(the trace or spur) is ‘invariant to an orthogonal trans- derived. This replaces conditions a) and b) above by
formation. It should be noted [3, 41 in passing that such
an orthogonal transformation corresponds to an inter- a’) S(p) contain real rational functions s,,(p) analytic
connection of the network ports with ideal transformers. in u > 0.
b’) (E - X*‘(p) X(p)), be a positive hermitian matrix
REALIZABILITY OF THE SCATTERING MATRIX IN THE for u = 0.
COMPLEX FREQUENCY DOMAIN This’theorem becomes a basis for the synthesis of react-
The restriction on the amplitude of t,he reflection factor ance two ports from a prescribed gain function [22] and
Is(j~)( for real frequenci& was demonstrated in the second enables all the Darlingtcn formulas for the open circuit
section, (11). Furthermore since s(p) contains the natural impedances and short circuit, admittances to be easily
96 IRE TRANSACTIONS ON CIRCUIT THEORY June

determined from the network gain function, or input

mmittance [23].
W = $I-- Vt’(jw) 1E - S*‘(jw)S(jw) 1 V,(jw) dw
co
A major motivation for wishing to formulate realiz-
ability criteria in terms of scattering parameters is that and since Q(w) is a positive matrix, it follows that W 2 0.
the resulting theorems apply to all physical passive The reflected voltage time response to a set of time
structures including degenerate situations which are not dependent incident voltages viei is
readily expressed in impedance or admittance terms. For
example it is possible to generalize certain realizability
restrictions on distributed parameter nonreciprocal net-
works given by Raisbeck [24] in terms of impedance. where
Define physical realizability of an n port linear network
(the ports constitute reference planes in transmission lines si&)2’%lp, p = u + jw, u > O(57b)
kjk(t) = i& 1-1
propagating only one mode) as requiring 1) that the total
energy delivered to the network be positive for any set
and if vr-k(t) = 0, t < 0 then kik(t) = 0,. t < 0, and the
of exciting signals in the time domain and 2) that the
integrand of (57b) must be analytic in the right half .of the
causality law is satisfied; i.e., the network has no response
p plane since the inverse transform of (57b) is uniformly
before signals are applied. (See also Schutzer and Tiomno
convergent for u > 0 due to the damping factor E-‘~.
[7]). Then the theorem states:
Conversely if the integrand of (57b) is analytic for u > 0
The.’ necessary and suficient conditions that a n port and has only the boundary singularities given in (a’) of
linear network be physically realizable as dejined above are the theorem then the integral (57b) surely represents the
that: impulse response and transforming to a contour integral,
. it follow? that klk(t) = 0, t < 0. Thus vrek(t) of (57a)
a) The elements s,,(p) of S(p), p = g + jw be real must be zero for, t > 0. The singularities given in (a’) are
functions of p, (i.e., sii(u) is real) analytic for o > 0. typical of systems which satisfy MaxGell’s equations.
[a’) The singularities of the s;,(p) on p = jw, be restricted If this theorem for distributed systems is compared
to be poles, branch points and/or an essential sin- with the one for lumped systems given earlier the salient
gularity at in$nity.] change is that in the lumped case the analyticity require-
b) (E - X*‘(p) S(p)) be positive hermitian for all ment for u > 0 could ,be derived from &(a, w) positive
u 2 0 (except at singularities). (T > 0, (i.e., causality was implied from positive energy)
whereas in the distributed case analyticity is an addi-
Condition (a’) is probably not. necessary but is used in
tional independent requirement arising from the caus-
the sufficiency proof to guarantee that certain inverse
ality law.
Fourier Transforms actually represent physical time
functions. An idea of the proof is sketched below, based on
BIBLIOGRAPHY '
an unpublished memorandum of L. Castriota of Poly- i
technic Institute of Brooklyn. [ii Belevitch, V., “Elementary Applications of the Scattering
Formalism to Network Design.” TRANSACTIONS OF THE IRE,
To prove necessity a set of harmonic real frequency p. 97; this issue.
incident voltages with rising exponential envelopes of the 121Belevitch, V., “Four Dimensional Transformations of 4-Pole
Matrices with Application to the Synthesis of Reactance 4-
form Re vi-k E(‘+““)~, vi-k .= lvi.+l eiBk are assumed. The Poles.” TRANSACTIONS OF THE IRE, p. 105; this issue.
total energy W for t very large (transient, response has [31 Oono, Y., “Application of Scattering Matrices to the Synthesis
of n-Ports.” TRANSECTIONS OF THE IRE, p. 111; this issue.
decayed) is computed. 141 Kahn, W., “Scattering’Equivalent Circuits for Common Sym-
metrical Junctions.” TRANSACTIONS OF THE IRE, p. 121; this
issue.
W = 2 [VFTQ(a, w)Vi [51 Treuhaft, M. A., “Network Properties of Circulators Based on
the Scattering Concept.” TRANSACTIONS OF THE IRE, p. 127;
this issue.
+ cos(b1Vi@ - S’(P)Ss(P))Vi
[I 2 0 161 Campbell, G. A. and Foster! R. hf., “Maximum Output Net-
works for Telephone Substatron and Repeater Circuits.” l’rans-
+ = tan-’%!
0’ P = a+jw. actions of the AZEE, Vol. 39 (1920), pp. 231-280.
171 Schutzer, W. and Tiomno, J., ‘<On the Connection of the
Scattering and Derivative Matrices with Causality.” Physical
Review, Vol. 83 (July 15, 1951), pp. 249-251.
This equation coupled with the positive character .of WI Montgomery, C.,, Dicke, R. H., and Purcell, E. M., Principles oj
Q(w) [see (46)] gives Q(u, w) = E - S*T(p) R(p) positive Microwave Circuats. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.,
1948, pp. 132-138, 146-156, 158-161, 298-306, 401-479.
for u 2 0. 191Tomonaga, S., Journal of the Physical Society of Japan,
To show that Q > 0 is .sufficient for positive energy, Vol. 2 (1947), p. 158.
[lOI Belevitch, V., “Transmission Losses in 2n-Terminal Networks.”
the total energy may be derived from the Fourier Trans- Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 19 (July, 1948), pp. 636-638.
forms v~-~(~w) of the time dependent incident voltages in 1111Belevitch, VI, “2n-Terminal Networks for Conference Teleph-
ony.” Electracal Communication, Vol. 27 (September, 1950),
terms of the indicial scattering coefficients sik(jw). (These p. 231.
are associated with the responses to unit impulse incident WI Dicke, R. H., “A Computational Method Applicable to h&o-
wave Networks.” Journal of Applied Physics,Vol. 18 (October,
excitation). 1947), p. 873.
1956 belevitch: Scattering Formalism in Network Design 97
j131 Laemmel, A., ScatteringMatrix Formulation of &{icrowave Net- Modern Network Synthesis II, Vol. V (April, 1955).
works. Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, Proceedings of the [20] Belevitch, V., “Synthesis of Passive Electric Networks with N
Symposium on Modern Network Synthesis, Vol. 1 (April, Terminal Pairs from a Prescribed Scattering hlatrix.” (In
1952), p. 259. French), Annales des Telecommunication, Vol. 6 (August,
[141 Collin, R. E., “Theory and Design of Wide-Band Multisection 1951), pp. 302-312.
Qtuarter-Wave Transformers.” PROCEEDINGS OF THE IRE, Vol. [al] Oono, Y. and-Yasurra, K., “Synthesis of Finite Passive 2n-
43 (February i) 1955);p. 179. terminal Networks with Prescribed Scattering Matrixes.” (In
]151 Sokolnikoff, I. S., Tensor Analysis. New York, John Wiley and French), Annales des Telecommunication, Vol. 9 (March, April,
Sons, Inc., I 951, Chapter 1. May, 1954).
1161Fano. R. h 1 “Theoretical Limitations on the Broadband [22] Belevitch, V., “Topics in%he’Design of Insertion Loss Filters.”
Matching of ‘Arbitrary Impedance.” Journal of the Franklin TRANSACTIONS OF THE IRE, Vol. CT-2 (December, 1955),
Institute, Vol. 249 (January, 1950), pp. 57-98; (February, 1950),
pp. 139-154. [23] 8azic H J and LaRosa R “On the Synthesis of Reactance
[I71 LaRosa, R. and Carlin, .H. J., “A General Theory of Wideband 4-Pole:.” ‘Journal of A?&ed’bhvsics, Vol. 24 (October, 1953),
Matching with Dissipative 4-Poles,” Journal of Mathematics and pp. 1336-1337. * ._ ”
Physics, Vol. 33 (January, 1955), pp. 331-345. [24] Raisbeck, G., “Definition.of Passive Linear Networks in Terms
[I81 Carlin,. H. J., “Gain Bandwidth Limitat,ions on Equalizers and of Time and Energy.” Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 25
Matchmg Networks.” PROCEEDINGS OF THE IRE, Vol. 42, (December, l954), pp 1510-1514.
(November, 1954), pp. 16761685. . . Watson. W. H., “Mat] Eix Methods in Tfinsmission Line Calcula-
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technic Institute of Brooklyn, Proceedings of the Symposium on Part 3A (1946), pp. 737-746.

Elementary Applications of the Scattering

Formalism in Network Design*
VITOLD BELEVITCHt

INTRODUCTION parameters, such as the relations between S, 2, and Y

matrices, since these are discussed in the introductory
HE PURPOSE of this paper is to show the con-
paper of this issue.
siderable simplification introduced by the scattering
formalism in the derivation of many theorems of
IMAGE-PARAMETERS
elementary network theory, and to illustrate how often
this concept discloses new aspects of known results, or A 2-port working between its image-impedances W,
new connections between apparently unrelated properties. W, is matched by definition and its scattering matrix
The examples chosen are somewhat unrelated, but they reduces to
have been selected to emphasize the fertility of the
scattering concept; for the sake of simplicity, the examples s= Q s
are limited to calculations at a single frequency, or deal
0)
II s 0 I
with properties of. frequency independent networks, so
that the complex frequency plane is never used.’ An where the elements S,,, simply denoted-by s, is e-O, 0
appendix is devoted to some more advanced topics. being the image transfer constant. .Denoting by E the
Although no really new results are obtained, it is hoped unit matrix, the normalized impedance matrix is then
that a tutorial paper will be of interest, at least in con-
tributing to relieve the burden of heavy elementary 2 = 2(E - ,Cj-’ -- E = I& II 1 + s2 2s
algebra. Most of the contents of the article are taken from .1--s 2s
1 + s2
author’s University lectures, which are being prepared
for publication in book form. .coth 0 l/sinh 0
(2)
It is assumed that the reader is familiar with the l/sinh 0 coth e
definition and elementary properties of the scattering
As the normalization is with respect to the terminations,
* Manuscript received by the PGCT, August 21, 1955. between which S has the form (l), i.e., the image-imped-
t Centre d’Etude et d’Exploitation des Calculatuers Electroniques, ances, the denormalized impedance matrix is
Brussels, and University of Louvain, Belgium.
‘The simplification introduced by the scattering parameters in
the synthesis of reactance a-ports has been indicated in V. Bele- W, coth 0 l/WY, W,/sinh 0
vitch, “Topics in the design of insertion loss filters,” TRANS. IRE, (3)
vol. CT-2, pp. 337-346; December, 1955. !I dm/sinh e W, coth e