VNA-based broadband EVM measurement of an RF nonlinear PA under load mismatch conditions

G. P. Gibiino, A. M. Angelotti, A. Santarelli, P. A. Traverso

Abstract

In the context of modern communications systems operating at radio-frequency (RF), the error vector magnitude (EVM) is the most commonly adopted metric to quantify modulation distortion caused by a nonlinear device. While EVM is typically measured with instrumentation featuring broad acquisition bandwidth (BW), here we implement a method based on multiple narrowband vector network analyzer (VNA) acquisitions, allowing for improved measurement accuracy and for broader characterization BWs. We report the EVM characterization of a nonlinear RF power amplifier (PA), analyzing, in particular, the case of the PA cascaded with a linear network, under load mismatch conditions as imposed by a narrowband passive tuner.

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IMEKO TC

TC4 - Measurement of Electrical Quantities

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