A method for measuring the permittivity without ambiguity using six-port reflectometer

Automatic network analyzers are used for the broadband measurement of permittivity in different experimental arrangements. In many of them ambiguity appears because permittivity is calculated by solving a transcendental equation. This makes automatic measurements difficult. A method of eliminating this ambiguity is shown, with no additional experimental data required, except for a manipulation of the existing data. Theory and experimental results for low-loss dielectrics are shown for the short-circuited waveguide method using a six-port reflectometer. Errors are analyzed and several samples with permittivities of up to 16 are measured with an accuracy on the order of 1%