Permittivity Sensor Based on a Slow-Wave Artificial Transmission Line

A slow-wave periodic artificial transmission line implemented by means of dumbbell-shaped defect ground structures (DB-DGS) is applied to the implementation of a phase variation permittivity sensor. Due to the dispersion characteristic of these lines, the sensitivity of the phase with the dielectric constant of the material under test (MUT) can be improved, as compared to the one of conventional lines. This sensitivity improvement is demonstrated in this work through full-wave electromagnetic simulations.