Reliable method for computing the phase shift of multiline LRL calibration technique

In this paper, a new method for computing the phase shift of lines used in the multiline line-reflect-line (m) calibration technique is presented. The new method is based on a matrix approach to determine the traveling wave /spl lambda/ and uses a reliable criterion to compute the constants a/c and b. The new method overcomes the problem of sign ambiguity of the eigenvalues /spl lambda//sub 1/ and /spl lambda//sub 2/, inherent to the classical method. Another advantage of the new method of computing the phase shift is that the physical length of lines is not needed. The new method computes the line phase shift from the knowledge of the traveling wave /spl lambda/, that is, without previous knowledge of the wave propagation constant.