Measuring Noise Parameters Using an Open, Short, Load, and λ/8-Length Cable as Source Impedances

Noise parameters are a set of four measurable quantities which determine the noise performance of a radio frequency device under test (DUT). The noise parameters of a two-port device can be extracted by connecting a set of four or more source impedances at the device’s input, measuring the noise power of the device with each source connected, and then solving a matrix equation. However, sources with high reflection coefficients (
$|\Gamma |\approx 1$
) cannot be used due to a singularity that arises in entries of the matrix. Here, we detail a new method of noise parameter extraction using a singularity-free matrix that is compatible with high-reflection sources. We show that open, short, load, and an open cable (OSLC) can be used to extract noise parameters and detail a practical measurement approach. The OSLC approach is particularly well-suited for low-noise amplifiers at frequencies below 1 GHz, where alternative methods require physically large apparatus.