Application Notes
Vector network analyzers are traditionally used to measure the continuous wave (CW) S-parameter performance of components. Often under these operating conditions the analyzer is functioning as a narrowband measurement instrument. It transmits a known CW frequency to the component and measures the CW frequency response. If we were to look at the response of a single CW frequency we would see a single spectral tone in the frequency domain. The analyzer has a built in source and receivers that are designed to operate together in a synchronous manner, utilizing narrowband detection, to measure the frequency response of the component. Most analyzers can be configured to generate a frequency sweep over many frequency tones.
In some cases, the signal applied to the component must be pulsed (turned on and off) at a specific rate and duration. If we were to look at the frequency-domain response of a single pulsed tone, it would contain an infinite number of spectral tones making it difficult to utilize a standard narrowband VNA. This document describes how to configure and make accurate pulsed S-parameter measurements using the Keysight Technologies, Inc. Microwave PNA Series network analyzer.
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