A quarter-wave transformer, also known as a quarter-wave matching section or quarter-wave line, is an electrical transmission line used to match the impedance between two sections of a circuit. It is called a "quarter-wave" transformer because its physical length is equal to one-quarter of the wavelength of the signal being transmitted.
The main purpose of a quarter-wave transformer is to match the impedance of a source with the impedance of a load. Impedance is a measure of the opposition that an electrical circuit presents to the flow of alternating current. When the impedance of the source and the load are mismatched, it can lead to signal reflections and a loss of power transfer.
The quarter-wave transformer is typically constructed using a transmission line with a characteristic impedance that is geometrically tapered along its length. The tapering allows for the gradual transition of impedance between the source and the load. By properly designing the taper, the impedance at the source end of the transformer can be matched to the impedance at the load end.
The length of the quarter-wave transformer is determined by the wavelength of the signal, which depends on the frequency and the propagation velocity of the transmission line. By adjusting the physical length of the transformer, it is possible to achieve a phase shift of 90 degrees between the input and output signals, hence the name "quarter-wave" transformer.
Quarter-wave transformers are commonly used in RF (radio frequency) and microwave circuits to match the impedance between components such as antennas, amplifiers, and filters. They are also used in transmission lines to minimize signal reflections and improve overall system performance.
Consider the following transmission line with characteristics impedance \(Z_0\) and is terminated with a load resistance \(R_L\). The transmission line and the load resistance are connected using a piece of transmission line with impedance \(Z_1\) and length \(\frac{\lambda}{4}\). This piece of lossless transmission line with length \(\frac{\lambda}{4}\) that is added so that the reflection coefficient \(\Gamma\) is zero.
The impedance \(Z_{in}\) is,
\( Z_{in} = Z_1\frac{R_L+jZ_1 tan(\beta l)}{Z_1+jR_L tan(\beta l} \) ---->(1)
The value of \(Z_{in}\) when \(\beta l = \frac{2 \pi}{\lambda} \frac{\lambda}{4} = \frac{\pi}{2}\)
Then from the equation(1) we get,
\(Z_{in} = \frac{Z_1^2}{R_L}\)
for \(\Gamma = 0\), we must have, \( Z_{in} = Z_0 \) and therefore we have,
\( Z_1= \sqrt{Z_0 R_L} \)
