Smith Diagram

The Smith chart (or Smith abacus) is a tool that enables the graphical solution of complex mathematical problems in radio frequency (RF) engineering, such as transmission line impedance matching, reflection coefficient analysis, and stability calculations. Developed in 1939 by Bell Telephone Laboratories engineer Phillip H. Smith, this chart visualizes complex impedance and admittance values on the complex plane by projecting them onto the reflection coefficient plane. Today it remains the standard data display format in modern circuit simulation software and vector network analyzers (VNA).

Basic representation of the Smith Chart (generated by artificial intelligence)

History

Phillip H. Smith developed this graphical method to avoid the repetitive and laborious mathematical calculations required to determine standing wave ratios and impedance variations on transmission lines in the 1930s. Although Japanese engineer T. Mizuhashi independently developed a similar graphical tool at the same time, Smith’s design became the global standard.

Mathematical Foundation and Formulas

The Smith chart is based on the mathematical relationship between complex impedance (Z) and complex reflection coefficient (<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord">Γ</span></span></span></span>). On a transmission line, the relationship between the load impedance (Z_L) and the characteristic impedance (Z₀) determines the reflection coefficient.

Normalized Impedance

To make the chart universally applicable, impedance values are normalized by dividing them by the system’s characteristic impedance (<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.04398em;">z</span></span></span></span>).

<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.04398em;">z</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.3337em;vertical-align:-0.4451em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8886em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight" style="margin-right:0.07153em;">Z</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3173em;"><span style="top:-2.357em;margin-left:-0.0715em;margin-right:0.0714em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.5em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size3 size1 mtight"><span class="mord mtight">0</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.143em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.4103em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight" style="margin-right:0.07153em;">Z</span><span class="msupsub"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.3448em;"><span style="top:-2.3567em;margin-left:-0.0715em;margin-right:0.0714em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:2.5em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size3 size1 mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight">L</span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.1433em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.4451em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6667em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.02778em;">r</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span><span class="mbin">+</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2222em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.854em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.05724em;">j</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span>

Here, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.02778em;">r</span></span></span></span> is the normalized resistance (real part), and <span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span> is the normalized reactance (imaginary part).

Reflection Coefficient Transformation

The Smith chart is a conformal (angle-preserving) transformation of the normalized impedance plane (z) onto the reflection coefficient plane (<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord">Γ</span></span></span></span>). This relationship is expressed by the following formula:

<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord">Γ</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.2484em;vertical-align:-0.4033em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8451em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight" style="margin-right:0.04398em;">z</span><span class="mbin mtight">+</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mathnormal mtight" style="margin-right:0.04398em;">z</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">1</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.4033em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span>

Conversely, when the reflection coefficient is known, the impedance at that point is calculated as:

<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.04398em;">z</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.2757em;vertical-align:-0.4033em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="mopen nulldelimiter"></span><span class="mfrac"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.8723em;"><span style="top:-2.655em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span><span class="mbin mtight">−</span><span class="mord mtight">Γ</span></span></span></span><span style="top:-3.23em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="frac-line" style="border-bottom-width:0.04em;"></span></span><span style="top:-3.394em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3em;"></span><span class="sizing reset-size6 size3 mtight"><span class="mord mtight"><span class="mord mtight">1</span><span class="mbin mtight">+</span><span class="mord mtight">Γ</span></span></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.4033em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mclose nulldelimiter"></span></span></span></span></span>

This transformation maps the infinite impedance plane in Cartesian coordinates (right half-plane) into the interior of a unit circle (<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:1.2em;vertical-align:-0.35em;"></span><span class="mord"><span class="delimsizing mult"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.85em;"><span style="top:-2.85em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.2em;"></span><span style="width:0.333em;height:1.200em;"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="0.333em" height="1.200em" viewBox="0 0 333 1200"><path d="M145 15 v585 v0 v585 c2.667,10,9.667,15,21,15 c10,0,16.667,-5,20,-15 v-585 v0 v-585 c-2.667,-10,-9.667,-15,-21,-15 c-10,0,-16.667,5,-20,15z M188 15 H145 v585 v0 v585 h43z"/></svg></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.35em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mord">Γ</span><span class="mord"><span class="delimsizing mult"><span class="vlist-t vlist-t2"><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.85em;"><span style="top:-2.85em;"><span class="pstrut" style="height:3.2em;"></span><span style="width:0.333em;height:1.200em;"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="0.333em" height="1.200em" viewBox="0 0 333 1200"><path d="M145 15 v585 v0 v585 c2.667,10,9.667,15,21,15 c10,0,16.667,-5,20,-15 v-585 v0 v-585 c-2.667,-10,-9.667,-15,-21,-15 c-10,0,-16.667,5,-20,15z M188 15 H145 v585 v0 v585 h43z"/></svg></span></span></span><span class="vlist-s">​</span></span><span class="vlist-r"><span class="vlist" style="height:0.35em;"><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">≤</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span>).

Transformation of the normalized impedance plane into the reflection coefficient plane. (generated by artificial intelligence)

Structure and Components

The Smith chart consists of the superposition of two families of curves:

• Constant Resistance Circles (<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.02778em;">r</span></span></span></span>): Circles formed by points with a constant real part on the complex plane. All resistance circles are tangent to the open-circuit point (<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord">Γ</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span>) at the far right of the chart.
• Constant Reactance Arcs (<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span>): Arcs formed by points with a constant imaginary part. Positive reactances (inductive, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.854em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord">+</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.05724em;">j</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span>) lie in the upper half of the chart, while negative reactances (capacitive, <span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.854em;vertical-align:-0.1944em;"></span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.05724em;">j</span><span class="mord mathnormal">x</span></span></span></span>) lie in the lower half.

Applications and Critical Points

On the Smith chart, three critical points define key circuit behaviors:

1. Short Circuit Point (<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.04398em;">z</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span></span></span></span>): Located at the far left of the chart (<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord">Γ</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.7278em;vertical-align:-0.0833em;"></span><span class="mord">−</span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span>). Both resistance and reactance are zero.
2. Open Circuit Point (<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.04398em;">z</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord">∞</span></span></span></span>): Located at the far right of the chart (<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord">Γ</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span>). Resistance is infinite.
3. Matched Load Point (<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.4306em;"></span><span class="mord mathnormal" style="margin-right:0.04398em;">z</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">1</span></span></span></span>): Located at the exact center of the chart (<span class="katex"><span class="katex-html" aria-hidden="true"><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6833em;"></span><span class="mord">Γ</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span><span class="mrel">=</span><span class="mspace" style="margin-right:0.2778em;"></span></span><span class="base"><span class="strut" style="height:0.6444em;"></span><span class="mord">0</span></span></span></span>). Here, the load impedance equals the line impedance and there is no reflection.

The chart is a fundamental tool for designing impedance matching circuits, implementing stub matching, and calculating VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio).