Six-Port Waveguide Used for Simultaneously Measuring Permittivity and Permeability of Solid Materials in the Microwave Region

After analyzing the methods ofmeasuring the permittivity and permeability of materials simultaneously, by placing the sample inside awave guide, the authors outline the benefits of using a computerfor controlling the experiment and measuring continuously the coefficient of reflection as a function of the position of the short circuit behind the sample. A suitable numerical treatment of the experimental data, including redundancy data, increases accuracy by reducing random experimental errors. The computer can also detect some systematic defects of the experimental design and aid in correction. A discussion of how such measurements can be interpreted to determine whether a composite material is purely dielectric, magnetic or diamagnetic is also made.