Low-frequency Magnetic Shielding of Planar Shields: A Unified Wave Impedance Formula for the Transmission Line Analogy

This article focuses on wave impedance calculations employed in the transmission line analogy for the low-frequency magnetic shielding problem: a planar shield against a loop current source placed parallel to the shield. We present a unified formula for wave impedance calculations that is distinct from traditional definitions of the transverse E-field to H-field ratio, which is related to the ratio of the H-field components to its longitudinal derivative. The formula is relatively simple in terms of mathematical complexity when applied to derive a concrete wave impedance expression. For a circular loop, the formula produces the same wave impedance expression as the traditional definition for field points on the central axis of the loop. For field points off the axis, the formula more accurately predicts the shielding effectiveness relative to traditional definitions. Based on the proposed formula, we also obtain wave impedance expressions for rectangular, elliptical, and regular polygon loops under quasi-static assumptions. The effectiveness of these expressions is verified through comparisons with finite element simulations.