Module 3: Microwave Measurements

Detection of microwave power, Measurement of microwave power - bridge circuit, thermistor

parameters, waveguide thermistor mounts, direct reading barretter bridges, Measurement of
wavelength - single line cavity coupling system, transmission through two line cavity coupling
system, Frequency pulling by reactive load, Typical wave meters, measurement of VSWR,
measurement of attenuation – Definition of Attenuation, methods of measurement

Questions
1. What are the devices that are classed as ‘thermoelectrical indicators’ used in detection of microwave
power?
2. Sketch the cross section of a crystal rectifier. Explain briefly the construction and working of this
device.
3. Explain the static characteristics of crystal rectifier.
4. Define the sensitivity of the detector. How does it depend on dc bias ?
5. What is the ‘figure of merit’ of the crystal ? Explain briefly.
6. Explain the temperature dependence of sensitivity of the crystal rectifier.
7. Define RF and IF impedances of the converter.
8. What do you understand by the noise factor of the heterodyne detector ? Explain.
9. Compare low-level detectors and converters for minimum detectable power.
10. Explain briefly the function of the crystal holder.
11. What is ‘average power’ and ‘pulse power’ ? Explain briefly.
12. Compare thermistors and barretters.
13. State the difference between ‘bridge sensitivity’ and ‘detector sensitivity’.
14. Draw the circuit diagram of unbalanced Wheatstone bridge. Obtain the expression for the bridge
sensitivity. Comment on the factors affecting the bridge sensitivity.
15. What are the factors affecting the linearity of calibration in direct reading bridges ? Explain.
16. Explain briefly the construction of a bead thermistor.
17. What are the two types of thermistors used in measurement of microwave power ?
18. Explain briefly the dc-characteristics of bead thermistor.
19. Explain the fundamental parameters of bead thermistors.
20. How can the fundamental parameters of bead thermistors be determined experimentally?
21. With schematic section drawing, explain the construction and working of “O-O” mount.
22. With schematic section drawing, explain the construction and working of “S-S” mount.
23. Show that there is deviation from the perfect square-law for barrater.
24. Obtain the equation for the error in direct-reading barretter bridge caused by the deviation from
square law response.
25. With circuit diagram, explain the working of self-balancing direct-reading barretter bridge.
26. What is a cavity-coupling system ?
27. Define unloaded Q, loaded Q and radiation Q for a cavity coupling system.
28. Draw the equivalent circuit of a two-line cavity-coupling system. Obtain the expression for
transmission-loss function.
29. Explain the ‘transmission cavity wavemeter’ circuit. How is it used to measure the generator
frequency ?
30. Explain the ‘reaction cavity wavemeter’ circuit.
31. With schematic diagram explain the Chipman method of detection of standing waves in a
transmission line.
32. With schematic diagram explain the conventional standing-wave detector method of detecting
standing waves in a transmission line.
33. Discuss the problems associated with the slot in the transmission line in conventional standing-wave
detector.
34. With schematic diagram explain the construction and working of ‘electric field’ probe used in
standing-wave detector.
35. With schematic diagram explain the construction and working of ‘magnetic field’ probe used in
standing-wave detector.
36. Discuss the difficulties arising in use of sampling probe in conventional standing-wave detector.
37. Explain the double-minimum method of measurement of high VSWR. What is the additional
advantage of this method ?
38. What do you understand by low, medium and high standing-wave ratios ?
39. Define the insertion loss of a network.
40. Obtain the equation for insertion loss that represents addition of reflection losses and dissipative
losses.
41. State the methods of measurement of insertion loss of a four-terminal network.
42. Explain the ‘insertion or power ratio method’ of measurement of insertion loss of a four-terminal
network.
43. Discuss the ‘substitution method’ of measurement of insertion loss of a four-terminal network.
44. Define the transmission efficiency of a network. Obtain the equation for transmission efficiency of a
network.
45. What do you understand by ‘essential or intrinsic loss’ of a network.