The Transient Response of Damped Linear Networks with Particular Regard to Wideband Amplifiers

When the transient response of a linear network to an applied unit step function consists of a monotonic rise to a final constant value, it is found possible to define delay time and rise time in such a way that these quantities can be computed very simply from the Laplace system function of the network. The usefulness of the new definitions is illustrated by applications to low pass, multi-stage wideband amplifiers for which a number of general theorems are proved. In addition, an investigation of a certain class of two-terminal interstage networks is made in an endeavor to find the network giving the highest possible gain—rise time quotient consistent with a monotonic transient response to a step function.