Uncertainty analysis for a phase-detector based phase noise measurement system

Patrice Salzenstein (1) , Thomas Yong Wu (2)

1 FEMTO-ST - Franche-Comté Électronique Mécanique, Thermique et Optique - Sciences et Technologies (UMR 6174)
2 NMC - National Metrology Centre

Phase noise is an important parameter to characterise the frequency stability of oscillators and synthesised signal generators. Accurate measurement of phase noise is required for various applications in radar, communication and navigation systems. A single-channel phase-detector based phase noise measurement system is described. The system’s measurement errors and uncertainties have been analysed in details. The expanded uncertainty is about 2.7 dB for calibrating phase noise of a signal generator at 0.001–1.6 GHz for frequency offsets from 1 Hz to 100 kHz. The uncertainty budget for measuring a signal generator’s phase noise at 640 MHz is also presented.

Mots clés: Phase noise measurement Uncertainty analysis Metrology standard Phase detector

Domaines: Sciences de l'ingénieur [physics]; Statistiques [stat]; Méthodologie [stat.ME]; Energie électrique; Electronique

Patrice Salzenstein, Thomas Yong Wu. Uncertainty analysis for a phase-detector based phase noise measurement system. Measurement - Journal of the International Measurement Confederation (IMEKO), 2016, 85, pp.118-123. ⟨10.1016/j.measurement.2016.02.026⟩. ⟨hal-02096317⟩