A microwave method of determining dielectric constant and loss by phase comparison

Since all methods of determining dielectric constant and loss by transmission line or waveguide techniques have in common the necessity of measuring the propagation constant, γ= α +jβ of waves in the dielectric medium, the most direct method is that of measuring both α and β in a dielectric-filled section of slotted line or waveguide. In this way, the unwieldly calculations are avoided which are otherwise required to deduce α and β from measurements made outside the medium.