Experimental Verification of the Theory of Laminated Conductors

Clogston has discovered that if a conductor is properly laminated, there exists a particular phase velocity along the conductor for maximum penetration of the fields and minimum loss due to skin effect. An experimental coaxial line was constructed whose center conductor was laminated and whose phase velocity could be varied by changing the dielectric constant of the main dielectric. As predicted by theory, the measured attenuation was critically dependent upon phase velocity. With optimum phase velocity the attenuation, though greater than predicted by theory, was less than that of a conventional coaxial cable of the same dimensions and same main dielectric. A theoretical analysis of the experimental laminated conductor is described in an appendix.