Phase Repeatable Synthesizers as a New Harmonic Phase Standard for Nonlinear Network Analysis

In this paper, the synthesized phase reference standard is introduced as a new viable alternative to comb generator-based phase references for nonlinear vector network analyzer measurements. Emphasis is put on the achievable higher specific output power of a frequency picket of interest for a denser spacing in the reference frequency grid. Supporting calculations on network analyzer IF filter bandwidths and limits for a denser grid spacing for comb-based phase references are presented. The concept is evaluated with a reference prototype covering the frequency range of 54 MHz to 6.8 GHz requiring only a 10-MHz reference signal and no network analyzer generators for stimulus, thus enabling even 2-port network analyzers without direct receiver and generator access to perform nonlinear reflection measurements. Furthermore, a method for generating a low-jitter trigger signal for the oscilloscope in absence of the comb generator pulse is shown. The synthesized phase standard implementation and the characterization setup are described in high detail to facilitate reproducibility of the results. Characterization of the new phase standard is performed in a frequency hopping pattern for amplitude and phase values of the reference pickets with a sampling oscilloscope-based setup. Startup and steady-state measurements are provided. A steady-state relative phase repeatability better than 2° over power cycles and drift of 0.089 °/h at 4 GHz referenced to a synthesized 1-GHz fundamental is achieved.