Single-Ended and Differential S-Parameters

<p><font face="Verdana">Single-Ended and Differential S-Parameters</font><br/></p>
<p><font face="Verdana">MAXIM High-Frequency/Fiber Communications Group</font><br/></p>
<p><font face="Verdana">The term “scattering parameters” is derived from the<br/>parameters that represent a scattering or separation<br/>of a signal by a device under test (DUT). These</font><font face="Verdana">scattered signals are the reflected and transmitted<br/>waves that are produced when a device is struck<br/>with an incident wave. S-parameters become<br/>mportant when the operating frequencies are high<br/>enough so that circuit elements become a significant<br/>fraction of a wavelength (approximately one-tenth of<br/>a wavelength), and a lumped-element approach must<br/>be discarded in favor of a distributed model.</font></p> <br/>