Determining noise temperature of a noise source using calibrated noise sources and an RF attenuator

Abstract

Abstract-A system to measure the noise temperature (NT) of noise sources is implemented in the frequency range of 18-26.5 GHz for the case where noise sources commercially available have only one nominal NT, e.g., 9500 K being equivalent to 15-dB excess noise ratio. For the Y-factor method, two noise sources, i.e., a noise source and another with a radio-frequency attenuator, serve as the standard noise sources. The noise power output of the noise sources are measured using a commercial noise figure measurement instrument. Measurement results are presented, and its uncertainty has been evaluated to be 0.23-0.25 dB (k = 2).