Morgan Hill, CALIFORNIA – March 6, 2023 – Anritsu introduces frequency expansion modules for its line of Rubidium™ signal generators in partnership with Virginia Diodes, Inc. (VDI). Operating at frequencies from 50 to 1100 GHz, the modules complement the best-in-class characteristics of Rubidium, providing the industry's widest frequency coverage and the best power output to create a sub-terahertz signal generator for new scientific systems, wireless communication systems and applications for scanning bodies and materials.
The integrated solution provides significant advantages in signal purity and output power in a design environment with a frequency below THz. Rubidium significantly outperforms all other signal generators in its class in terms of phase noise and harmonic/parasitic interference. The performance benefits remain at frequencies below THz.
When VDI frequency expansion modules are used with rubidium signal generators, engineers provide the industry's highest output power at THz frequencies. VDI modules provide high power of the test port, voltage-adjustable RF attenuation and TTL-adjustable modulation on/off frequency up to several kHz as standard.
Each frequency expansion module has two multipliers that can be configured to pass input signals in two frequency ranges. One multiplier has a low-frequency input for <20 GHz and an input level of 10 dBm, and the other has a high-frequency input for <50 GHz and an input level of 0 dBm.
The Rubidium-VDI signal generation solution meets the growing demand for new designs of the sub-THz radio frequency spectrum. It can be used in the development of satellite services, radio astronomy, Earth exploration and meteorological applications. Wireless communication systems focused on the W-band (90 to 120 GHz) and D-band (130 to 170 GHz), as well as inter-satellite communication lines operating at frequencies from 220 to 330 GHz, are also applications for which this solution has been developed.
“VDI is committed to producing the highest quality testing and measurement solutions for the millimeter, sub- and terahertz frequency ranges by extending the frequencies of the existing microwave testing infrastructure. Achieving this requires constant innovation and development to integrate advanced active devices with our proprietary Schottky diode technology to meet the measurement challenges of tomorrow,” said Cliff Rowland, vice president of business development at VDI. “VDI is pleased to partner with Anritsu to combine our high-frequency SGX expansion modules with its new signal generation capabilities and bring high-performance solutions to the market.”
Rubidium provides a new level of performance
The Rubidium family of signal generators provides exceptional signal purity and frequency stability even at high output power levels over a wide frequency range from 9 kHz to 43.5 GHz. Combined with the built-in, easy-to-use on-site frequency and power calibration capability, Rubidium provides exceptional overall utility and long-term value in a wide range of commercial, scientific, and military/aerospace measurement applications.
Rubidium provides an order of magnitude better frequency stability compared to other signal generators using an OCXO-based reference. The signal generators provide unprecedented low single sideband phase noise (SSB) of -136 dBk/Hz (typical) and -140 dBk/Hz (measured) at 10 GHz and 10 kHz offsets, which is unparalleled in the industry. Combined with the best-in-class characteristics of harmonics and spurious signals, rubidium signal generators enable customers to make high-precision measurements.
