A novel type N coaxial air-line verification standard

Vector network analyzers (VNAs) are versatile and complex instruments to characterize devices in the RF and microwave range. After the calibration of a VNA, airlines and attenuators are typically used for the two-port verification in coaxial connector systems. In this paper, a novel type N coaxial verification standard, operating at frequencies up to 18 GHz, based on air-line architecture is designed, fabricated and analyzed. This coaxial architecture is relatively simple compared to already existing attenuation standards which are often based on T- or π-network configurations of lumped elements and it also provides significant transmission losses. The simple approach enables the realization of a calculable standard. Based on electromagnetic simulations, a complete uncertainty budget is presented and compared with the measurement results.