The Allan Variance Usage for Stability Characterization of Weak Signal Receivers

Y. V. Vekshin, A.P. Lavrov

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, V. 9870, 648–657 (2016)

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-46301-8_56

Keywords: receiver stability, Allan variance, cryogenic receiver, noise signal analysis, flicker-noise, drift, measurement dead time, corrected Allan variance

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the Allan variance usage for output signal fluctuation analysis of weak signal receivers. The tri-band microwave receiving system for the new radio telescope RT-13 of Institute of Applied Astronomy of Russian Academy of Sciences is considered. The Allan variance correction for signals with «dead time» in data acquisition is developed. Output stability of the receiver is investigated in terms of noise fluctuation type – white, flicker, drift, etc., and their time stability intervals calculation. Investigations are performed in S-, X-, and Ka- receiver bands. The influence of the input cryogenic stage temperature on output receiver signal is considered also.