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This paper presents novel nonlinear vector network analyzer (NVNA)-based techniques for characterizing the harmonic and intermodulation nonlinearity of dual-band radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers (PAs). On the one hand, a wideband Schroeder-phase multisine is used to drive a step recovery diode comb generator, so that a novel multiharmonic-band NVNA phase reference on a dense spectral grid is obtained. On the other hand, a novel phase calibration approach is developed to synchronize the NVNA multiband measurements. To validate the NVNA testbed with novel techniques, an RF PA under two typical kinds of dual-band multisine stimulus is tested, where the NVNA measurement is compared with that of an oscilloscope. This paper can be easily adapted for various multiband conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The step-recovery-diode-based impulse generator is a classical picosecond-level impulse-formation technique, whose strong harmonic nonlinearity under sinusoidal stimulus is widely utilized as the phase reference of the nonlinear vector network analyzer (VNA) (NVNA) and large-signal network analyzer for wideband measurements. This paper further exploits its intermodulation nonlinearity under multitone stimulus and proposes a new approach, rather than the traditional “harmonic” way, of the NVNA phase reference for future polyharmonic intermodulation measurements. Experimental results show that this method can provide plentiful intermodulation components around each harmonic available and is stable for NVNA use, with the advantages of flexible local frequency-resolution setup from tens of megahertz to less than hundreds of hertz. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]