Abstract: A highly sensitive method and system for making absolute measurements of er at all radio frequencies is described. This method surmounts the primary shortcoming of the other existing methods in that it permits absolute measurement of power at all radio frequencies, whereas all other methods except one, viz, the so-called incremental method, (described in our co-pending application), are inherently frequency limited, with the current upper limit being about 75 GHz. This major advantage stems from the fact that this method utilizes a direct comparison of the unknown rf power with a primary standard, whereas the other methods (with the exception of the incremental method) require a conversion of the power to heat before making the comparison. The main advantage of this method over the incremental method is that it has much higher sensitivity, permitting absolute measurement of rf power to be made down to about -100 dBm, as compared with only about -10 dBm for the incremental method.

Abstract: A method and system for making absolute measurements of coherent rf power is described. The method surmounts the primary shortcoming of the other existing methods in that it permits absolute measurement of power at all radio frequencies, whereas the other methods are inherently frequency limited, with the current upper limit being about 75 GHz. This major advantage stems from the fact that this method utilizes a direct comparison of the unknown rf power with a primary standard, whereas all other methods require a conversion of the power to heat before making the comparison.

Abstract: A method and system for absolute measurement of noise power is described. e method is valid at all radio frequencies but is particularly useful above 65 GHz where no other means for making such measurements currently exists. A gas driven shock tube is provided as a primary laboratory standard of high temperature and, hence, noise power. A system and method for comparing a noise source under test to the primary standard in order to provide an absolute measurement of noise power generated by the test source are described.