Impedance matching between two 50 ohm cables through a joint

AI Thread Summary
Impedance matching is crucial when connecting two 50-ohm coaxial cables through a copper wire joint, particularly to minimize signal reflections. The joint's design and the continuity of the coaxial shield are significant factors affecting performance, especially with a signal pulse rise time of 2 ns. A proper RF feedthrough is recommended for optimal signal integrity, as it can prevent issues related to impedance mismatch. The discussion highlights that if the source and load impedances are both 50 ohms, reflections can be mitigated, but any mismatch can lead to ringing at the load. Overall, while a solution was found, understanding impedance matching remains valuable for future reference.
Traceless
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Hi,

I'm in a bind trying to determine how to handle impedance matching through a joint of copper wire sandwiched between two 50-ohm coaxial cables (the joint is an interface between atmosphere and a UHV system). There is a signal pulse with a rise time of 2 ns coming through one of the coaxial cables, through the joint, and into the other cable, where it then continues through to a series of electronics. I am trying to avoid reflection as much as possible. Any ideas? Thank you very much.
 
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hi

draw a pic Am trying to envision where the 3rd wire comes into the picture ??1

and can you clarify this please ...

Traceless said:
(the joint is an interface between atmosphere and a UHV system).
cheers
Dave
 
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The impedance of the "joint" needs to match that of the coax as closely as possible and be suitable for the frequency range. What connectors are being used?

Perhaps scroll down this page to the "COAXIAL CONNECTOR CHART"

http://ecee.colorado.edu/~kuester/Coax/connchart.htm
 
Are you sure any reflection is coming from the joint?
 
Hi everyone,

Thank you for your responses. The joint is a copper wire feed-through within a flange on a UHV chamber. I've attached a poor drawing, but hopefully it portrays what I'm trying to describe. I think we've found another solution, but I'd still like to understand how this particular issue could be solved by impedence matching.

Thank you very much,

~Randall

https://www.dropbox.com/s/k1aer8mmaszst9p/Note111915_1.jpg?dl=0
 
That is going to cause reflections, and with a rise time of 2ns you might run into some problems. I doubt there is an easy way to solve this without a complete re-design.
Is the copper just a feed-through? Or, does it have some other purpose?
If your goal is just to get an RF signal into a vacuum chamber the best solution is just to buy a proper RF feedthrough.
 
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Traceless said:
Hi everyone,

Thank you for your responses. The joint is a copper wire feed-through within a flange on a UHV chamber. I've attached a poor drawing, but hopefully it portrays what I'm trying to describe. I think we've found another solution, but I'd still like to understand how this particular issue could be solved by impedence matching.

Thank you very much,

~Randall

https://www.dropbox.com/s/k1aer8mmaszst9p/Note111915_1.jpg?dl=0
How is ground fed through that connection? If you don't feed the ground through as well, you will have serious problems.

(Assuming that ground is fed through as well and you just didn't draw it...) What are the source impedance and load impedance? If they are both 50 Ohms, then you will not get ringing at the load due to the impedance mismatch of the feedthrough. You will get a reduced amplitude pulse at the load due to energy lost in the reflection at the feedthrough, but the "back termination" effect of the 50 Ohm source will keep you from getting ringing at the load. If either the source impedance or load impedance are something other than your transmission line's 50 Ohms, you will get ringing at the load due to the feedthrough impedance mismatch.
 
Manufacturers of vacuum equipment sell vacuum-tight feedthroughs with coaxial connectors on each side. I suggest that you replace your feedthrough with one of those.
 
Hi again everyone,

Thanks to all of you for replying. Yes, we have a flange with a coaxial feedthrough on another chamber. The initial issue was because of a deadline that prevented us from taking the time to order a new flange. Fortunately, things have changed and this was solved. However, I continued the conversation because I was curious if this could be solved in any other way for future reference.

If this problem is simply not possible to solve easily (and since the problem was essentially solved using a different flange), then feel free to discontinue the thread. As for the other questions, the signal is actually coming from the vacuum chamber from a detector through the flange and to other electronics and the ground connection is actually the chamber itself.

Thank you very much.
 
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The problem is that at high frequencies the physical shape of wires and cables affects their electrical properties. You have to treat them as transmission lines. Its quite a complex subject but there are lots of books and articles on the subject.
 
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Traceless said:
Hi again everyone,

Thanks to all of you for replying. Yes, we have a flange with a coaxial feedthrough on another chamber. The initial issue was because of a deadline that prevented us from taking the time to order a new flange. Fortunately, things have changed and this was solved. However, I continued the conversation because I was curious if this could be solved in any other way for future reference.

If this problem is simply not possible to solve easily (and since the problem was essentially solved using a different flange), then feel free to discontinue the thread. As for the other questions, the signal is actually coming from the vacuum chamber from a detector through the flange and to other electronics and the ground connection is actually the chamber itself.

Thank you very much.
The main issue for me is that, despite the high frequency, this is an electrical circuit, and yet you do not have continuity of the
coaxial shield through the joint.
 
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