Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Beatty, R. W..
Delay-line standards have been tested by three independent laboratories using six different methods. Results are published in report showing delay values obtained from 15-, 30-, and 60-ns cables by different laboratories. Study of potential error sources indicates that reflection errors due to discontinuities at ends of cables are usually small.
Theoretical equations are derived for calculating the effects of local VSWR and reflection coefficient phase angle drifts on hydrogen maser frequency stability. Sample calculations made for a typical JPL maser show that under special load conditions, a VSWR drift of 0.000075/h or phase angle drive of 0.01 deg/h can produce a frequency drift of (10 to the -14th power f sub 0) Hz/h where f sub 0 is the maser frequency of approximately 1.42 x 10 to the 9th power Hz.
Calculation method can be applied to transmission lines operating in TEM mode or to single-mode propagation in waveguides. Derived data are useful for estimating limits on variation of group delay with frequency or in determining how much discontinuity reduction is necessary to achieve given accuracy in predicting group delay.
A set of cable assemblies serving as group delay standards having nominal delays of 15, 30, and 60 nsec are described. Various types of measurements were performed on the cable standards, including impedance, microwave phase shift, RF pulse burst delay, modulation pulsed delay, and envelope phase shift measurements. The results of these tests are given, and various sources of error are discussed, in particular, dispersion and internal reflections.
The problem is considered of the effect of reflections from discontinuities at each end of a transmission line on the group delay at microwave frequencies. Previous work is briefly reviewed and a general analysis is made. Graphical data are presented based upon the formulas developed. Experimental results are given which confirm the theory.