May 1992 | Technical Note NIST TN 1355

Transmission/Reflection and Short-Circuit Line Methods for Measuring Permittivity and Permeability

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James Baker-Jarvis, Michael D. Janezic, John H. Grosvenor Jr., and Richard G. Geyer

Abstract:

A transmission/reflection and short-circuit line methods for measuring complex permittivity and permeability of materials in waveguides and coaxial lines are examined. Equations for complex permittivity and permeability are developed from first principles. In addition, new formulations for the determination of complex permittivity and permeability independent of reference plane position are derived. For the one-sample transmission/reflection method and two-position short-circuit line measurements, the solutions are unstable for frequencies where both samples resonate simultaneously. Criteria are given for sample lengths to maintain stability. An optimized solution is also presented for the scattering parameters. This solution is stable over all frequencies and is capable of reducing scattering parameter data on materials with higher dielectric constant. An uncertainty analysis for the various techniques is developed and the results are compared. The errors incurred due to the uncertainty in scattering parameters, length measurement, and reference plane position are used as inputs to the uncertainty models.

Note: This report was revised in December 1993. See doi: 10.6028/NIST.TN.1355r, https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/TN/nbstechnicalnote1355r.pdf

Keywords: microwave; coaxial cable; measurement; permeameter

Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, components, and software may be identified in this report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nor does it imply that the equipment or software identified is necessarily the best available for the particular application or uses.

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