Microwave variable waveguide attenuator

A new type of cutoff attenuator is presented. The attenuator works in the X-band in conditions of almost perfect matching. This means that the phase of the wave, which propagates inside the guide, does not suffer sensible variation in the passage between X- and K(u)-bands. Moreover, the attenuator works directly in the X-band, avoiding the passage between waveguide and cable, thus eliminating spurious effects due to this (double) passage. Experimental results of attenuation and dephasing using a prototype are also presented.