Selection Guide
Keysight Technologies
Phase Noise Measurement Solutions
02 | Keysight | Phase Noise Measurement Solutions Finding the Best Fit for Your Test Requirement - Selection Guide
www.keysight.com/find/phasenoise
Table of Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 03
Finding the Best Fit for Your Test Requirement.........................................................03
Phase Noise Overview.................................................................................................03
Summary Comparison of Measurement Techniques ..........................................................04
Primary Phase Noise Measurement Techniques ................................................................. 05
Direct spectrum technique ......................................................................................... 05
Phase detector techniques ......................................................................................... 06
Two-channel cross-correlation technique ................................................................ 11
Keysight’s Phase Noise Measurement Solutions ................................................................ 12
Direct spectrum technique-based solutions ............................................................. 12
Phase detector technique: ......................................................................................... 14
Two-channel cross-correlation technique: E5052B signal source analyzer ........... 18
Comparison of Keysight phase noise measurement solutions .................................21
Selecting the Right Phase Noise Solution ...........................................................................22
Additional Resources ............................................................................................................23
Web Resources .....................................................................................................................23
Introduction
Finding the Best Fit for Your Test Requirement
Built upon 40 years of RF design and measurement experience, Keysight Technologies, Inc. continues
to offer a wide range of the phase noise measurement solutions based on a variety of test and
measurement techniques. However, finding the right solution can be a challenge.
This document will help guide you in selecting the solution that best fits your specific measurement
requirements. More information about phase noise can be found in the Additional Resources section
in the back of this document.
Phase Noise Overview
Phase noise is one of the most important figures of merit of a signal generating device and can
well be a limiting factor in a mission-critical application in aerospace and defense, as well as in
communications.
The basic concept of phase noise involves frequency stability, which is defined as the degree to which
an oscillating source produces the same frequency throughout a specific period of time. Frequency
stability consists of two components: long term and short term.
Long-term stability describes the frequency variations that occur over hours, days, months, or even
years. By contrast, short-term frequency stability is about changes in the nominal carrier frequency of
less than a few seconds duration. The focus of this document is on short-term frequency stability.
While there are many technical terms to quantify phase noise, one of the most commonly adopted
measures is the "single side-band (SSB) phase noise",
((f). Mathematically, the US National Institute
of Standard and Technology (NIST) defines
((f) as the ratio of the power density at an offset frequen-
cy from the carrier to the total power of the carrier signal.