AbstractThe problem of coupling between the transmission line and the external electromagnetic waves is analyzed more easily and more effectively if it is treated via transmission line theory rather than scattering theory if the cross section of the transmission line is much smaller than the wavelength and the principal mode of the induced current is TEM. This paper derives the transmission line equations by which the induced current is excited by the electric field components in the transmission direction and between the lines among the electromagnetic field components. the relation with the conventional theory, physical meanings and the equivalent circuits are discussed. In the experiment in which a plane wave is used as the external electromagnetic field, the results agree well with the present theory and the validity of the theory is confirmed if the transmission line cross section is extremely small. Further, a compensation method is discussed for the transmission line height for which the principal mode is considered TEM. the theoretical accuracy is shown and the fact that the line width restricts the range of applicability of this theory is confirmed experimentally.