Measurement of low powered microwave pulses by comparative methods

Three methods of measuring the peak power of low-level microwave pulses are compared, the tangential signal method, the notch method, and the heterodyne method. The tangential signal method gives power level in terms of calculable thermal noise, and the result is therefore absolute. The other two methods give the peak pulse power in terms of a measureable average power level. An outline of the theory, actual measurements, and some of the difficulties encountered are given for each method.NRC publication: Ye