Automated Intrapulse RF Data Acquisition

The modeling and analysis of pulsed (particularly noncoherent) RF sources is often hampered by the inability to determine the intrapulse magnitude and phase characteristics of short duration pulses. The data acquisition system described in this paper can automatically collect detailed intrapulse magnitude and phase data from an RF pulse sequence. sition system samples the in-phase and quadrature components of the pulse and computes magnitude and phase. It was developed primarily to investigate Ka band magnetron characteristics. Analog-to-digital conversion and temporary storage at rates up to 500 MHz is provided by a waveform recorder. A microcomputer controls the automated collection of a pulse sequence and enables the permanent storage of the data. Once stored in digital form, the intrapulse data are easily processed and analyzed to enhance the development of signal models. can also be used directly in the simulation of pulsed RF systems. The acqui