# Reflections on a differential transmission line

I understand why reflections occur when there is an impedance mismatch on a single-wire transmission line. However, when we introduce a differential line, I am having trouble picturing what would occur in the following cases:

Imagine a transmission line with 100-ohm differential impedance and 50-ohm single-ended impedance. What would happen in each of these cases?

(1) There is a discontinuity where the differential impedance remains 100 ohms, but the single-ended impedance changes.

(2) There is a discontinuity where the differential impedance changes, but the single-ended impedance remains 50 ohms.

The reason this could be unavoidable in real-life design is due to restrictions on stackup and trace width/spacing that may be driven by other mandatory design requirements. If I have to design in either one of these types of discontinuities, I want to understand which is worse, and why.

Thank you.

• A differential line is the same as two single ended lines carrying a mirror image of the same signal. you could split a 100 ohm differential line into two 50 ohm single ended lines without an issue (100 ohms differential impedance is the impedance of two single ended 50 ohm lines as the signal has to go through both) – Sam Jun 1 '16 at 10:18
• Well said @Tom. – Rolf Ostergaard Jun 2 '16 at 7:58

If the differential impedance changes (regardless of the single ended impedance), there will be a discontinuity as given by $\Gamma = \frac {Z_1 - Z_2} {Z_1 + Z_2}$ where $Z_1$ and $Z_2$ are the differential impedances and $\Gamma$ is the reflection coefficient for voltage.