A new method of measuring the dielectric constant of liquids and granular materials up to the L-band in the microwave region

This paper describes a new method of measuring the complex relative permittivity epsilon* of low-loss liquids and granulated materials up to the L-band in the microwave range, based on the six-port technique. The novel feature of this method is the determination of epsilon* directly from the intersection of three circles in the complex epsilon*-plane. Furthermore, neither liquids nor granulated materials are used as calibration standards; instead, a matched load and nine adjustable short circuits are employed as standards. The ambiguity usually found in several reported methods is completely eliminated by the already consolidated six-port technique. Results of computer simulations are here presented and discussed.