Title :
On the frequency and amplitude spectrum and the fluctuations at the output of a communication receiver
Author_Institution :
Lab. de Phys. et Metrol. des Oscillateurs, Univ. de Franche-Comte, Besancon, France
Abstract :
A multiplier (or mixer) cascaded with a low pass filter is the basic piece of any communication receiver. It is also used to register minute frequency fluctuations of an external oscillator (RF) under test versus the frequency of a local oscillator (LO). Such a scheme may also be viewed as the basic model of an electronic oscillator, with the amplifier noise at the RF input and the resonator signal at the LO input. We have investigated experimentally the whole spectrum of frequencies and amplitudes of beat signals and their frequency fluctuations at the IF output of the multiplier+filter. We have found evidence that all the dynamics follows arithmetical rules. As for the frequency of the beat signal it is defined from a diophantine approximation of the frequency ratio of input oscillators. As for the amplitude it is defined globally from the position of resolved fractions with respect to the uniform graduation. As for the frequency fluctuations a transition from white frequency noise to 1/f frequency noise is observed close to resonance. It is explained on the basis of number theory in relation to the Riemann problem concerning the distribution of prime numbers
Keywords :
1/f noise; fluctuations; frequency multipliers; low-pass filters; radio receivers; spectral analysis; white noise; 1/f frequency noise; IF output; RF input; Riemann problem; amplifier noise; amplitude spectrum; arithmetical rules; beat signals; communication receiver; diophantine approximation; electronic oscillator; external oscillator; fluctuations; frequency ratio; frequency spectrum; low pass filter; multiplier; number theory; prime numbers; resolved fractions; resonator signal; uniform graduation; white frequency noise; Fluctuations; Local oscillators; Low pass filters; RF signals; Radio frequency; Radiofrequency amplifiers; Resonance; Signal resolution; Testing; White noise;
Conference_Titel :
Frequency and Time Forum, 1999 and the IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium, 1999., Proceedings of the 1999 Joint Meeting of the European
Conference_Location :
Besancon
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-5400-1
DOI :
10.1109/FREQ.1999.841542