A Novel Technique for Measuring Pulse-Train Jitter

A quantitative definition of pulse-train jitter is developed. The definition surmounts the two main shortcomings of the existing definitions, viz., 1) it permits an absolute evaluation of jitter and 2) it is independent of the jitter character. The development consists of showing mathematically that information on each type of jitter-jitter in pulse repetition rate, width, and height-is stored in a linear fashion in the AM sidebands of one or more harmonics of the mean pulse train and that pulse-train jitter may consequently be defined as the ratio of the AM power associated with a convenient harmonic to the power in that harmonic. The definition is valid for pulse trains of low duty factor (e. g., < 0.01) having relatively small amounts of jitter, conditions very frequently encountered in practice. An additional advantage of this definition is that it permits an evaluation of pulse-train jitter by relatively simple instrumentation. A brief description of such instrumentation, as well as a simple example of jitter measurements, is given.