Measurements of the dielectric constant of lossy ceramics

The complex dielectric constant ε = εr−jεi, of lossy ceramics is determined by measuring the complex reflection coefficient (p) of a rectangular sample placed at the end of a shorted waveguide. These measurements are verified by comparing the measured transmission and reflection through the same samples with the transmission and reflection calculated from the measured e. This technique, which requires only a scalar detector, a source and a frequency counter, is automated using a GPIB interface to a PC.