From 1 GHz to 1 THz, the myth of jumping currents debunked with Simbeor THz

As we can see, at 1 GHz, currents seem to glide smoothly under the “hurdles“. But appearances can be deceiving! The skin depth plays a crucial role. When the “hurdles” (such as grooves or bumps) are much smaller than the skin depth, currents ignore them. No jumping, just a leisurely stroll under the “hurdles“. However, things get interesting when the skin depth decrease (or “hurdles” grow?). As the skin depth becomes comparable to or smaller than the “hurdles“, currents start doing hurdle race. To illustrate this effect, I conducted a numerical experiment using Simbeor’s Trefftz finite elements solver. A groovy parallel-plate waveguide with 1 μm by 0.5 μm grooves on one copper wall. Yes, a groovy waveguide! As you can see, even at a mind-boggling 1 THz, currents stubbornly flow within the grooves. No jumping, no shortcuts. This debunks the myth that currents stick to surface tops. Instead, they explore every nook and cranny. Next time you’re discussing signal integrity and the effect of roughness, drop this nugget. Impress your colleagues with the weird and wonderful world of currents! See more at