A Spectral Model for RF Oscillators With Power-Law Phase Noise

Abstract

In this paper, we apply correlation theory methods to obtain a model for the near-carrier oscillator power-spectral density (PSD). Based on the measurement-driven representation of phase noise as a sum of power-law processes, we evaluate closed form expressions for the relevant oscillator autocorrelation functions. These expressions form the basis of an enhanced oscillator spectral model that has a Gaussian PSD at near-carrier frequencies followed by a sequence of power-law regions. New results for the effect of white phase noise, flicker phase noise and random walk frequency modulated phase noise on the near-carrier oscillator PSD are derived. In particular, in the case of 1/f phase noise, we show that despite its lack of stationarity it is possible to derive a closed form expression for its effect on an oscillator PSD and show that the oscillator output can be considered to be wide-sense stationary