Common-Arm Counter Propagating Phase Bridge for Vibration Sensitivity Measurement

Published

May 24, 2012

Author(s)

Danielle G. Lirette, Corey A. Barnes, Archita Hati, Jason A. DeSalvo, Craig W. Nelson, David A. Howe

Abstract

Current methods for measuring the vibration sensitivity of microwave devices are primarily limited by choice of cables connecting a stationary platform to a vibrating actuator. We experimentally compare the current ("conventional") method with a new ("modified") common-arm counter propagating (CACP) technique for evaluation of two-port devices. We demonstrate that a CACP method reduces the vibrational noise floor of an optimized measurement system at 10 GHz by up to 25 dB. Common-mode disturbances from the vibration of cables and circulators contained in the measurement loop are rejected to first order. The CACP method enables accurate measurement of devices with low vibration sensitivity. Normally the sensitivity measurement of such devices is limited by a conventional measurement system's noise floor. Our system is based on similar work at optical frequencies by Nelson et al.

Proceedings Title

Proceedings of the 2012 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium

Conference Dates

May 22-24, 2012

Conference Location

Baltimore, MD

Conference Title

2012 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

common-arm counter propagating, microwave, phase noise, vibration cancellation, vibration sensitivity

Citation

Lirette, D. , Barnes, C. , Hati, A. , DeSalvo, J. , Nelson, C. and Howe, D. (2012), Common-Arm Counter Propagating Phase Bridge for Vibration Sensitivity Measurement, Proceedings of the 2012 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium, Baltimore, MD (Accessed October 18, 2025)