2-Way Delta Resistive Splitter | Qucs-S S-parameter Viewer Documentation

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# 2-Way Delta Resistive Splitter

## Overview

Simple 2-way equal-split resistive power divider using a Delta topology. Features three equal resistors arranged in a triangle: two series arms connecting the input node to each output port, and one shunt isolation resistor bridging the two output nodes. All resistors are equal to Z₀, providing simultaneous port matching and a 6 dB insertion loss.

Care must be taken with high-RF power as the network is dissipative.

## Topology

                        ┌──[R]──────────────── Port 2
                        │              │
    Port_in ── Node ───┤             [R]
                        │              │
                        └──[R]──────────────── Port 3

Key features:

- Two series arm resistors (R = Z₀) from input node to each output

- One isolation resistor (R = Z₀) shunting between the two output nodes

- All three resistors share the same value Z₀

- All ports simultaneously matched to Z₀

- Fixed 2-output topology — Delta mesh does not scale gracefully to N > 2

- Very broadband.

## Design Equations (Equal Split, 2-Way)

### Resistor Value

All three resistors share a single value:

    R = Z₀

For Z₀ = 50 Ω:

Parameter | Value
--- | ---
R₁ (series, top arm) | 50 Ω
R₂ (series, bottom arm) | 50 Ω
R₃ (isolation, output shunt) | 50 Ω
Insertion loss | 6.0 dB

### Comparison with Wye Splitter (2-Way)

| Delta | Wye
--- | --- | ---
Resistor value | Z₀ | Z₀/3
Insertion loss | 6 dB | 6 dB
Scalable to N > 2 | No (mesh) | Yes

Both topologies yield identical insertion loss for the 2-way case, but the Delta adds an isolation resistor between outputs, improving output-to-output isolation.

## References

[1] “Resistive power splitters”, Microwaves101.
https://www.microwaves101.com/encyclopedias/resistive-power-splitters

## See Also

- RF Circuit Synthesis Tools