Characterization of active harmonic phase standard with improved characteristics for nonlinear vector network analyzer calibration

This paper presents unique characteristics of a new active harmonic phase standard (HPS) for use in phase calibration of nonlinear vector network analyzers (NVNAs). The phase and amplitude characteristics are measured at various input powers, fundamental frequencies, and temperatures. The new active HPS is found to have a low sensitivity to these variables. This means that unlike conventional SRD-based HPS approaches, the new active HPS can be calibrated at a single fundamental frequency, input power level, and temperature, and still be successfully applied to a wide range of input powers and fundamental frequencies. The new HPS is compared to a conventional SRD-based HPS and found to be superior for NVNA calibration and related applications.