Definitions

Aliasing:The sampling of a magnitude VS time whose interval makes a false repetition, and an inability to analyze data at that interval.
Antenna:A device used to radiate or receiving radio waves.
ASICs:Application Specific Integrated Circuit.
Bandwidth:The start and stop frequency delta.
Capacitance:The ratio of the charge on one of the conductors of a capacitor to the potential difference between the conductors.
Clock frequency:The master frequency of the periodic pulses that schedule the operation of a computer.
Common mode:The same amplitude and phase at both inputs of a balanced transmission line. The energy imparted to ground when a balanced transmission line is not ideal.
Cross Talk:The measured unwanted coupling from one channel and another.
Current:The net transfer of electric charge per unit time. The rate of flow across a surface per unit time.
Cutoff Frequency:is the place where the wavelength is able to fit once in the transmission line.
DC:Electric current that flows in one direction only.
AC:Electric current that reverses direction periodically, many times per second.
dB:The ratio of 2 magnitudes. Also the ratio of a power to reference power.
Electrical length:Unit of time required to travel in a transmission line.
EMC:Unwanted coupling that occurs between circuits.
EMI:Interference at high frequencies causing unwanted disturbance to other systems.
Energy:Measured in milliwatts. Differences expressed in dB.
EYE Pattern:A specific plot denoting skew, Tr, skin effect, jitter, cross talk, insertion loss, resistance, common mode, simultaneously. (Other masks besides EYE are also common)
Frequency:The number of cycles completed by a periodic quantity in a unit time.
Field lines:A topological arrangement of electric and magnetic fields.
Gain:The increase in signal power.

Gating:To selectively pre-select a window of the magnitude VS time interval for close inspection used in a Fourier series to remove unwanted disturbances
Ground:Electrical connection to a reference conducting plane. Provide a return path in a transmission system.
Group Delay:The measured envelope of time VS frequency of a transmission line.
Impedance:The AC characteristics of real and imaginary components.
Impedance matching:Where the transmission line and the source are going to have minimum reflections and minimum distortions.
Inductance:The ratio of the electromotive force to the rate of change of the current.
Insertion Delay:The measured time it takes for a signal to pass completely through a transmission line usually referenced to the 50% points.
Insertion Loss:The loss in power received at the load due to the transmission line.
Launch:The transfer point where energy transfers from one point to another.
Loss Tangent:Energy lost in the dielectric partially due to the slower propagation compared to air.
Magnetic waves:perpendicular to the electric wave.
Mismatch:The impedance of the source does not match the impedance of the transmission line.
Reflection:A discontinuity caused by a wave traveling back into the source.
Resistance(DC):The opposition that a material offers to the flow of direct current, equal to the voltage drop across the material divided by the current through the material.
Resistance(AC):The real part of the complex impedance.
Resonance:The frequency at which there is a sharp peak of power when a circuit contains inductance, capacitance, and resistance of specific values.
Return Loss:The ratio between the incident power upon a discontinuity and the power reflected from the discontinuity.
Ringing:A cyclic arrangement of alternating transients that are under damped but decreasing over time in amplitude and period.
Rise Time:The transition time (usually 10% to 90%) when a signal is suddenly applied from a well-behaved source to a transmission line.
Shielding:A conductive barrier.
Shielding effectiveness:How much energy can be radiated.
Sine waves:A wave whose amplitude varies as the sine of a linear function of time.
Skew:The delta in time of the signal traveling through more than one transmission line.
Skin effect:The layer of the center conductor at which all the current is carried at a specific frequency.
Spectrum:The distribution of energy distributed over frequency.
SWR:The ratio of maximum amplitude to the minimum amplitude of a wave in a transmission line. (Standing Wave Ratio.)
TEM:Transverse electric, magnetic. Particular waves are propagated. Electric waves; transverse.
TDR:Time Delay Reflectometry.
TDT:Time Delay Through.
Transition:An engineered launch for least disturbance of energy.
Transmission:The transfer of a signal from one location to another.
Transmission Line:A system by which signals can be transferred between 2 or more points.
Velocity of propagation:The speed at which a signal passes through a transmission line with respect to air.
Voltage:Potential difference. Electromotive force. The difference in electric potential between 2 dissimilar nodes connected by a conductor.
Wavelength:The distance between 2 points having the same phase in 2 consecutive cycles in a periodic wave along a line in the direction of propagation.