An Impulse Spectral Intensity Measurement System

This paper describes a method for the measurement of impulse spectral intensity. An important application of the method is the calibration of impulse generators used for electromagnetic interference measurements and for field strength meter calibration. The measurement equation is derived from Fourier integral analysis of the impulse generator output pulse and the response of a measurement network to the pulse. The confusion surrounding the definition of impulse spectral intensity is reduced by studying the origins of some of the popular definitions. The quantity measured by this method is carefully defined. An impulse generator calibration system utilizing this method in the 150 kHz to 1 GHz range is described.