Zener diode and MMICs produce true broadband noise

摘要

A broadband source of white noise can be useful for measuring and testing communication equipment. The source in Figure 1 is simple and produces a large noise signal at its output terminals. The circuit comprises a zener diode and a few amplifying stages. The breakdown occurring in the zener diode is the true source of broadband noise in this design. This process is truly broadband because a substantial amount of noise is measurable at frequencies higher than 2 GHz.