N9068C Phase Noise X-Series Measurement Application

Keysight Technologies

Phase Noise

X-Series Measurement Application

N9068C

Technical Overview

• Phase noise measurements with log plot and spot frequency views
• Spectrum and IQ waveform monitoring for quick signal checks in frequency or time domain
• Supports external mixing for measurements to 110 GHz
• Multi-touch user interface or SCPI remote user interface
• Built-in context-sensitive help
• Transportable licensing between UXA, PXA, MXA, EXA and CXA X-Series signal analyzers

Phase Noise

Phase noise can be expressed as random, short-term frequency instability and is a key specification in both transmitter and receiver performance. For example, transmitting phase noise with digitally-modulated signals leads to the spreading of symbols limiting the symbol rate. Phase noise in receiver local oscillators limits sensitivity by obscuring weak signals in LO phase noise sidebands.

Keysight’s N9068C phase noise measurement application for the UXA, PXA, MXA, EXA and CXA X-Series signal analyzers uses the direct spectrum method. This method measures single-sideband phase noise power in the signal analyzer. The application automatically configures and optimizes the analyzer’s settings, such as resolution bandwidth (RBW) and phase locked loops to achieve the highest measurement accuracy and speed.

Top Features

Log plot

Log plot measures SSB phase noise (in dBc/Hz) versus offset frequencies expressed in logarithmic scale. This allows you to view the phase noise behavior of the signal under test across decades of offset frequencies in graphical and tabular form.

Log plot rejects AM noise in offsets of 1 MHz or less so that you measure only the phase component of the noise.

At offsets beyond 1 MHz, the overdrive function improves measurement accuracy by maximizing dynamic range to reduce the adverse effect of broadband noise.

Automatic search of carrier function with Auto Tune Multi-level video filtering.

Spot frequency

The spot frequency measurement continuously measures the phase noise and delta frequency at a user-specified offset from the carrier.

Tabbed measurements

Quickly switch between up to 16 measurement mode screens using screen tabs or multi-screen icon.

Advanced marker functions

The Log Plot measurement provides a wide range of advanced markers and marker functions so that you can analyze various aspects of the trace, such as integrated noise, averaged noise density, and residual FM across the applied band marker span, as well as multiple spurious peak search functions and absolute, octave slope, and decade slope scale delta markers.

Millimeter wave measurements

Using external mixing, phase noise measurements can be made to the terahertz. Support for external mixing is a standard feature of the UXA, PXA, MXA or EXA. Keysight’s USB smart harmonic mixers such as the M1970W extend the measurement range of the analyzer to 110 GHz. Solution partners such as Virginia Diodes offer mixers to 1.1 THz.

The N9041B UXA millimeter-wave signal analyzer provides frequency coverage up to 110 GHz. It also integrates the phase noise measurement inside, which can make your millimeter-wave phase noise connection and measurement more convenient and accurate.

Key Specifications

Definitions

• Specifications describe the performance of parameters.
• 95th percentile values indicate the breadth of the population (≈2σ) of performance tolerances expected to be met in 95% of cases with a 95% confidence.
• Typical values are designated with the abbreviation “typ.” These are performance beyond specification that 80% of the units exhibit with a 95% confidence.
• Nominal values are designated with the abbreviation “nom.” These values indicate expected performance, or describe product performance that is useful in the application of the product.