Statistical Measurement Techniques for Equivalent Source Mismatch of 1.85 mm Power Splitter

The equivalent source mismatch (Gamma_G) of a 1.85 mm coaxial power splitter was characterized by use of two statistical measurement techniques. The first technique, originally described by Juroshek uses a modified one-port calibration method to determine Gamma_G. The second method uses two-port measurements of the splitter with one of the ports loaded with a series of calibration standards. This second, ldquoindirectrdquo method provides measurements of S-parameters for the three-port device that can subsequently be used to calculate Gamma_G. Measurements of Gamma_G made with the two techniques are in good agreement. This demonstrates that the value of Gamma_G of a splitter can be determined by statistical measurement techniques, thus providing the possibility of exploiting redundant measurements to reduce the effect of random measurement errors. Analysis of repeated measurements of Gamma_G shows that the effect of random measurement errors is lower for the indirect method than for the Juroshek method.