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Mr. Kanisorn Khuphiran Student ID 6234203723

Johnson Noise

Mr. Kanisorn Khuphiran

Student ID 6234203723

Johnson noise is a fundamental noise existing in almost

every elements in thermal fluctuation. Johnson noise in a
resistor is studied in this experiment. Ordinarily, Boltzmann
constant is used to determine the amplitude of Johnson
noise. But to confirm the existence and characteristics of
Johnson noise, the power spectral density is measured over
24 different resistors. The Boltzmann constant is then
determined according to the Johnson noise formula. The
reliability of the result is then quantitatively determined by
the accuracy of the value of Boltzmann constant. It is found
that resulting Boltzmann constant has an accuracy about
99.3% confirming the existence of Johnson noise.

Keywords: Johnson noise, flicker noise, Boltzmann constant,

thermal fluctuation

1.INTRODUCTION of noises are normally presented in

Thermal noise coexists with electronic devices: flicker noise (1/f

thermal fluctuation which virtually noise) and Johnson noise (frequency-

happens anywhere. This noise is independent). In this experiment,

ubiquitous and is familiar to noise in a resistor is studied and the

electronics instrumentalist. Two kinds Johnson noise is to be confirmed in

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Mr. Kanisorn Khuphiran Student ID 6234203723

accordance to Johnson noise

(4)
formula.

1.1 Theory 2. การทดลอง (EXPERIMENT)

Johnson noise for a simple model
of electrons moving in a conducting
rod under thermal fluctuation at
average temperature T is given by Fig. 1 Circuit diagram of the scheme
for measuring the squared root of PSD
(1) The experiment consists of three

where is the average of parts: measurement of resistance,

measurement of squared root of PSD
squared voltage in the frequency
and determination of Boltzmann
range of f to f+Δf. This is dubbed
constant.
“power spectral density” or PSD, for
2.1 Measurement of resistance
short,
1. Arrange 24 samples of different
kB is the Bolzmann constant
-23 resistors to be measured over a table
(1.38x10 J/K) and
and turn on the digital multimeter
R is the resistance.
(DMM)
The Boltzmann constant can be
2. Measure the resistance of each
determined from the plot of PSD vs.
resistor with the DMM. Then, record
R by calculating its slope
their resistance.
(2)
3. When the resistances of 24
where m and Δm stands for the
resistors have been measured, turn
average slope and the error of slope
off the DMM.
for the plot of PSD vs. R and are able
2.2 Measurement of squared root
to be calculated by the use of
of PSD
equations(for the plot of y vs. x):
1. Wire the first sample, amplifier
(3)
with gain set to be x100 and Stanford

Mr. Kanisorn Khuphiran Student ID 6234203723
research systems model SR785 digital
signal analyzer (DSA) according to the
circuit diagram in Fig. 1. Then, turn on
all devices. Insert the hard disk for
the data to be saved into the DSA.
Measure the room temperature using
a thermometer. Record it as initial
temperature.
2. Press RUN/START on the DSA to
start fast fourier transforming the
amplified voltage signal. Wait until
the count reached 2000. Press SAVE
on the DSA. The filename may be
recorded together with the nominal
resistance of the sample to avoid
future confusion.
3. Switch to another sample and
do the measurement exactly as
instructed in 2. In total, there will be
24 files. Measure the room
temperature using a thermometer.
Record it as final temperature. Find
1E-10
PSD / V2Hz-1
1E-12
1E-14
1E+02
Fig. 2 Line graph of PSD vs. f with chosen frequency range specified
3
the average room temperature and
record it as resistor’s temperature, T.
4. In a computer, convert the 24
raw files into ASCII files which is
readable by EXCEL.
5. In EXCEL, open 24 ASCII files and
make a table of the squared root of
PSD at increasing frequency for 24
different resistors (may labeled them
with the nominal resistances). Find
the PSD by squaring the squared root
of PSD.
6. Plot the line graph of PSD vs.
frequency (f) for 24 different resistors
in the same canvas. Appropriately
choose a frequency range where
average PSD is unchanged. Only the
data in this frequency range is
corresponding to the Johnson noise
and used for further analysis.
7. Find the average of PSD over the
frequency range for 24 different
2.59E+03 1.43E+04
1E+03 1E+04
frequency / Hz
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Mr. Kanisorn Khuphiran Student ID 6234203723
resistors. Then, plot the scattering
graph of PSD vs. R. Discuss the
relationship between PSD and R
whether it is linear or not. Determine
the Boltzmann constant from the
slope of the graph. And discuss again
about the existence of Johnson
noise.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Fig. 3 Scatter plot between PSD and R
illustrates their linear relationship
The results are shown in Fig. 2 and
3. In Fig. 2, the flicker noise was
clearly illustrated in the
frequency range. The Johnson
noise’s frequency range is chosen to
be 2.59 kHz to 14.3 kHz. Average of
PSD in the chosen frequency range is
then plotted against
corresponding measured resistance
value. Their linear relationship is
shown in Fig. 3. Its slope and error of
slope are then calculated. And the
Boltzmann constant then can be
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calculated to be (1.37 ± 0.03)×10
J/K.
4. CONCLUSIONS
The electronic noises over 24
resistors are measured and fourier-
transformed. So, the frequency-
independent power spectral density
of noise can be selected. This noise
is well according to Johnson noise.
Their amplitude and linear
relationship with resistance are very
well predicted by the Johnson noise
formula (1). This is confirmed by the
agreement of the Boltzmann
constant value which has only 0.7%
deviation from the accepted value.
low
1. Johnson, J. (1928). "Thermal Agitation of
Electricity in Conductors". Physical
Review. 32 (97): 97–109.
doi:10.1103/physrev.32.97
2. Nyquist, H. (1928). "Thermal Agitation of
Electric Charge in Conductors". Physical
the
Review. 32 (110): 110–113.
doi:10.1103/physrev.32.110
3. Kroemer, Herbert; Kittel, Charles (1980).
Thermal Physics (2nd ed.). W. H.
Freeman Company.