High Precision Measurements Using High Frequency Signals

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that generalized lock-in amplifiers with digital cavities can analyze microwave signals with extremely high precision, enabling accurate measurement of physical changes in the propagation medium.

Contribution

It introduces a method to use high-Q digital cavities for ultra-high precision microwave signal analysis, verifying physical property measurements like temperature effects.

Findings

Achieved measurement precision of a few tens of hertz at gigahertz frequencies.

Verified Newton's law of cooling through phase and amplitude changes.

Potential for in-situ virtual metrology in material science.

Abstract

Generalized lock-in amplifiers use digital cavities with Q-factors as high as 5X10^8. In this letter, we show that generalized lock-in amplifiers can be used to analyze microwave (giga-hertz) signals with a precision of few tens of hertz. We propose that the physical changes in the medium of propagation can be measured precisely by the ultra-high precision measurement of the signal. We provide evidence to our proposition by verifying the Newton's law of cooling by measuring the effect of change in temperature on the phase and amplitude of the signals propagating through two calibrated cables. The technique could be used to precisely measure different physical properties of the propagation medium, for example length, resistance, etc. Real time implementation of the technique can open up new methodologies of in-situ virtual metrology in material design.