A VNA based broadband load-pull for non-parametric 2-port Best Linear Approximation modeling

Abstract

In this paper the Best Linear Approximation (BLA) of a full 2-port nonlinear dynamic system is extracted under broadband load-pull conditions. Starting from a series of VNA Measurements and broadband multisine excitations at both ports, the frequency response function, the covariance matrix of the output noise, and the covariance matrix of the output nonlinear distortions are estimated as a function of the frequency. Using well designed periodic excitations signals, these results are obtained with limited user interaction, making the method accessible for practitioner engineers.