Continuously tunable waveguide attenuator

摘要

A continuously variable waveguide attenuator (100). The continuously variable waveguide attenuator includes at least one waveguide attenuator cavity (109) having at least one barrier. A fluid dielectric (108) having a loss tangent, a permittivity and a permeability is at least partially disposed within the waveguide attenuator cavity (109). At least one composition processor (101 ) is included and adapted for dynamically changing a composition of the fluid dielectric (108) to vary an electrical characteristic of the fluid dielectric. A controller (136) is provided for controlling the composition processor (101 ) to selectively vary the electrical characteristic in response to a waveguide attenuator control signal (137).