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Building a Low-Cost White-Noise Generator
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Abstract: A
design idea for a white-noise generator is realized and revised. Two
low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) in cascade amplify the noise produced by a
reverse-biased Zener diode operating in junction-breakdown mode,
producing white noise with a bandwidth of several hundred megahertz.
The test results show that a fairly wideband white noise can be
generated using several inexpensive components.
White noise, which is defined as noise with constant power spectrum, is
useful for measuring and testing wide-band communication circuits.
Commercially available white noise generators are usually very
expensive. The design idea presented in this article is an inexpensive
method that produces white noise up to several hundred
MHz.
This white noise generator is based on the avalanche noise generated by
a zener breakdown phenomenon. It is created when a PN junction is
operated in the reverse breakdown mode. The avalanche noise is very
similar to shot noise, but much more intense and has a flat frequency
spectrum (white). The magnitude of the noise is difficult to predict
due to its dependence on the materials.
Basically the circuit has 2 portions: a zener
diode,
and MAX2650 Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA). The diode is reverse-biased and
noise output is taken from the anode. The MAX2650 is a wide-band
Low-Noise-Amplifier with 19dB gain operating from DC to 1GHz.
Summary of Test Results
The white noise generator circuit is realized with 2 boards, one for the zener diode, one for the MAX2650
LNA.
The output trace from the anode of the zener to the input of the LNA is
designed to be 50Ω. The output of the LNA is measured by a Rhode &
Schwarz Spectrum Analyzer. For practical purpose, noise power of -60dBm
or above is desired within the frequency
band of interest.
After several experiments, I obtained the following results:
- The noise output power is mostly decided by the diode's breakdown voltage.
I have used zener diodes with breakdown voltage of 4V(1N749),
5.1V(1N751), 5.6V(1N752), 7.5V(1N755), and up to 12V(1N759). 12V zener
generated noise power is at least 15~20dB higher than that generated by
5V zener.
- Even with 12V zener, 20dB gain from the LNA is not enough to produce noise power higher than -60dBm. We need at least two LNAs in cascade (38~40dB gain).
- The output noise power is almost independent of the source current. With the potentiometer,
the current into the diode can vary from 0mA to 100mA. Within this
source current range, the noise power varies pretty randomly within
±1dB. It seems in zener diode breakdown phenomena, the avalanche noise
dominates over other noise source, such as shot noise (which is
proportional to current), flicker noise and thermal noise.
- The frequency/power spectrum of the output noise is not perfectly flat over a wide frequency range. As shown in test result Figure 2,
from 1MHz to 100MHz, noise power drops almost 10dB. This could be
because of higher on-board attenuation for higher frequency components.
- 2 LNAs were used in cascade for the white noise generator, which produced 38dB~40dB gain.
The circuit is shown in
Figure 1,
and the test result is shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2, the bottom curve
is the instrument noise floor (measured when everything is OFF). The
second curve from bottom is the noise output from the LNA when the
diode is OFF. The top 2 curves are noise output spectrum at 10mA and
60mA diode current respectively.
Figure 1. White-noise generator circuit.
Figure 2. White-noise generator output spectrum.
Conclusion
In this article, a design idea of a White Noise generator is realized
The test result shows a pretty wide-band white noise generated with
several inexpensive components.
A similar version of this article appeared in the September-October 2004 issue of
Electronica magazine.
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