Low Phase Noise Frequency Division Using PLL

The paper presents a method of low phase noise frequency division using PLL technique. The condition that provides for the residual phase noise comparable to the regenerative frequency divider (RFDiv) performance is given. The advantages over the RFDiv are shown. Some of these include the easier achievable frequency division ratios larger than 2 and the optimal performance not requiring the circuit adjustment. The measured data on the residual phase noise of the PLL frequency divider by 10 are presented. These show that the measurement setup noise floor of −139 dB(rad2/Hz) at 10 Hz offset is virtually unaffected by the noise of the divider.