Specifications

Pulse measurements (Option 008)

The PNA receiver has optional Pulse measurement capability (Option 008). This option

provides software to set up and control pulsed-RF measurements with point-in-pulse

and pulse-profile capability.

Agilent has developed a novel way of achieving narrowband detection using wider IF

bandwidths than normal, by using a unique “spectral-nulling” technique that lets the

user trade dynamic range for speed, with the result almost always yielding faster mea-

surements than those obtained by conventional filtering. The advantage to narrowband

detection is that there is no lower pulse-width limit, since no matter how broad the

pulse spectrum is, most of it is filtered away anyway, leaving only the central spectral

component. The disadvantage to narrowband detection is that measurement dynamic

range is a function of duty cycle. As the duty cycle of the pulses gets smaller (longer

time between pulses), the average power of the pulses gets smaller, resulting in less

signal-to-noise ratio. In this way, measurement dynamic range decreases as duty cycle

decreases. This phenomenon is often called “pulse desensitization”. The degradation in

dynamicrange(indB)canbeexpressedas20*log(dutycycle).

Figure 35. Time domain.

The IF gates supplied with Option H11 can only be used with Option 008. 008 includes

all of the proprietary algorithms necessary to implement the spectral nulling technique

used with narrowband detection. 008 also controls the pulse generator(s) used in the

system, and performs pulse-profile measurements. Option 008 comes with two software

components.Oneisadynamic-linklibrary(DLL)whichactsasa“sub-routine”,andis

needed for automated environments. The second portion is a Visual Basic (VB) applica-

tion that runs on the PNA. This VB application is used for stand-alone, bench-top use.

ItinteractswiththeDLLandsendsappropriatecommandstothePNAandthepulse

generator(s). The VB application is assigned to one of the PNA’s macro keys for easy

access.

See Table 1 in section 3 for a list of PNA Series network analyzers, their frequency

ranges, power and sensitivity. Refer to the PNA data sheet for additional specifications,

literature number 5988-7988EN.

For more detailed information regarding pulsed measurement capabilities with the

microwave PNA refer to the Agilent Web site www.agilent.com/find/pna and

download the PNA Series MW Network Analyzers Configuration Guide for Pulsed

Measurements, literature number 5988-9833EN. Additional information is also avail-

able in Application Note 1408-11, literature number 5989-0563EN, and Pulsed Antenna

Measurements Using PNA Network Analyzers, literature number 5989-0221EN.

1. Up to 67 GHz.

IF ﬁlter

Time domain

Frequency domain

D/R degradation = 20*log[duty cycle]