Design and calibration of a large broadband dielectric measurement cell

A large dielectric measurement cell was designed and calibrated to operate over a 1-MHz to 3-GHz frequency range. The cell is much larger than commercially available cells and is useful for measuring samples with large-grain heterogeneities like concrete or rock. The cell works on a coaxial transmission line principle. Once the S parameters of the two end sections are calibrated, the S parameters of the sample region can be found. Then the complex permittivity of the sample can be deembedded. Because of the broad frequency range, three calibration methods are used for the low-, intermediate-, and high-frequency ranges. The accuracy of the cell is tested by measuring materials of a known dielectric constant. Error analysis is also performed to determine the uncertainty of the measurements