A low-cost instrument for the accurate measurement of Whispering-Gallery resonances up to 19 GHz
- Resource Type
- Conference
- Authors
- Corbellini, Simone; Ramella, Chiara; Pirola, Marco; Fernicola, Vito
- Source
- 2015 IEEE International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference (I2MTC) Proceedings Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference (I2MTC), 2015 IEEE International. :887-892 May, 2015
- Subject
- Bioengineering
Engineering Profession
General Topics for Engineers
Signal Processing and Analysis
Instruments
Frequency measurement
Resonant frequency
Temperature measurement
Accuracy
Standards
Global Positioning System
microwave resonances
whispering gallery thermometry
microwave measurements
- Language
- ISSN
- 1091-5281
The main current limit to the application of Sapphire Whispering Gallery Thermometry (SWGT) as transfer temperature standard in industry is represented by the cost and bulkiness of the Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) required to investigate the resonances of interest. In this work we present a low-cost measurement system for the accurate detection of complex resonance frequencies up to 19 GHz, aimed at replacing the use of a VNA in those field applications where portability and cost-saving are crucial requirements. The system includes a low cost GPS-based solution to obtain the needed accurate and stable frequency reference. The proposed equipment has been tested on a SWGT and successfully validated comparing the results obtained with a state-of-the-art laboratory set-up comprising a wideband VNA and a rubidium frequency standard. Results obtained demonstrated the potential of the system to replace VNAs in SWGT applications.