Coaxial cable

An electrical cable with a central conductor surrounded by an insulating layer, a conductive shield, and an outer protective jacket. Its geometry helps confine electromagnetic fields and carry high-frequency signals.

Characteristic impedance: The voltage-to-current ratio of a traveling wave on a transmission line. Coaxial cable dimensions and dielectric properties set this ratio, commonly 50 or 75 ohms.
Cable television: A system that distributes television and related services through wired networks. Networks commonly use 75-ohm coaxial cable to carry broadcast and broadband signals.
Electromagnetic field: A physical field produced by electric charges and currents that acts on charged matter. The cable guides electromagnetic fields between its inner conductor and shield.
Twisted pair: A cable made from two insulated conductors twisted together to reduce interference and crosstalk. It is a common, lighter alternative for telecommunications and computer networks.
Oliver Heaviside: A British mathematician and physicist who developed influential methods for analyzing electrical transmission lines. His transmission-line theory clarified how distributed resistance, capacitance, and inductance shape cable signals.
Coaxial transmission line: A transmission line formed by concentric inner and outer conductors separated by a dielectric. This is the electromagnetic structure implemented by coaxial cable.
Radio-frequency engineering: The engineering of circuits and systems that operate with radio-frequency signals. Coaxial cable connects antennas, transmitters, receivers, and test instruments.
Transmission line: A structure that guides electromagnetic energy between separated locations. Coaxial cable is a transmission-line form, not merely a pair of connected wires.
Optical fiber: A thin glass or plastic strand that guides information as pulses of light. Fiber avoids electrical conduction and offers high bandwidth over long distances.
Lloyd Espenschied: An American electrical engineer associated with the development of coaxial cable systems for communications. His work helped bring coaxial technology into long-distance telephone transmission.

Linked from 11 pages