Amplifier Tutorials

Ref.

Parameter name

Description

Dimension

1,18

Ideal, zero volts reference line

Mathematical construct, point of reference for all pulse voltages

volts

2,17

Blanked noise voltage

Noise voltage out of RFPA when blanked

volts

3

Bias enable transient voltage

Voltage spike exiting RFPA when RFPA is initially un-blanked pre-RF pulse

volts

4,15

Un-blanked noise voltage

Noise voltage out of RFPA when un-blanked

volts

5

Pulse pre-shoot

Amplifier output zero volt reference deviation prior to pulse rise

%

6

Pulse rising edge

10-90% voltage transition range

volts

7

Pulse rise transition duration

Time required for amplifier to transition from 10-90% of peak output voltage

micro/nano-seconds

8

Rising pulse overshoot

Portion of RF pulse that exceeds 100% amplitude during post rising transition duration

%

9

Pulse overshoot ringing/decay time

Time for damped sinusoidal envelope peak to decay

micro/nano-seconds

10

100% pulse RF amplitude reference

Point on RF pulse that is chosen to be 100%, usually after overshoot and ringing are done

volts

11a,b

Pulse tilt positive/negative

Amount that peak RF voltage slopes throughout pulse width duration

%

12

Pulse falling edge

90-10% voltage transition range

volts

13

Pulse falling transition duration

Time required for amplifier to transition from 90-10% of peak output voltage

micro/nano-seconds

14

Post pulse backswing

Amplifier output zero volt reference deviation after pulse fall time

%

16

Bias disable transient

Voltage spike exiting RFPA when RFPA is blanked post-RF pulse

volts

19

Falling pulse overshoot

Portion of RF pulse that exceeds final tilt amplitude pre-falling transition duration

%

20

AM-AM distortion

Inter-pulse amplitude ratio distortion, also known as gain linearity

db

21

AM-PM distortion

Inter-pulse relative phase distortion, also known as phase linearity

degrees

22

Amplitude stability

Long term gain stability over time

db/hours

23

Phase stability

Long term phase stability over time

degrees/hours

24

Phase-error, over-pulse

Phase shift across the duration of a pulse width

degrees