Noise analysis of broadband active metamaterials with non-Foster loads

Abstract

Active metamaterials loaded with non-Foster inclusions may exhibit broadband and low-loss material properties, as compared to their passive counterparts. However, the study of their noise performance still remains to be explored. In addition to the Johnson-Nyquist noise from lossy conductors, nonlinear materials used for the design of negative impedance converters (NICs) will give rise to noise as well. In this paper, a general analytical model is developed for the prediction of the noise performance of broadband, stable active metamaterials based on NICs. The noise performance is analyzed in relation to stability, and the effective material properties. The techniques developed in this paper can be applied generally to metamaterials for which equivalent circuit models exist, and results are shown demonstrating the power spectral density and the noise figure of the specific case of an active metamaterial consisting of loaded loop arrays. Results are compared to and verified with circuit simulations.