Group Velocity Estimation and Defect Localization in Magneto-Inductive Waveguides

We report on time–frequency analysis (TFA) of dispersion in a 1-D magneto-inductive waveguide (MIW). The short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and Wigner–Ville distribution (WVD) are used to localize the frequency content of the dispersed wave as a function of time and to estimate the group velocity in experiments using a 1-D MIW constructed with planar resonators. Time-domain reflectometry (TDR) measurements are performed after deliberately introducing defects along the waveguide; and the results are analyzed with TFA, demonstrating the potential for using such MIW-TDR configurations as sensors. The WVD-TFA is shown to provide precise time–frequency information, accurate defect localization, and group velocity estimation, confirming the slow wave long-range nature of dispersive MIWs. The adaptability of the MIW-TDR setup and the accuracy of the WVD for localization make the technique a suitable candidate for sensing applications using engineered dispersive media.