Noise measurements on standard RF power meters

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The modern radio-frequency power meters used to realize the power primary standards are based on bolometric detectors direct-current biased by means of a self-balancing current loop. We have updated the electronic components of a self balancing circuit originally developed by NIST and evaluated its performance in the terms of Noise Equivalent Power. The performed measurements give NEP = 1.5 × 10 −10 W/√Hz for the whole power meter and a NEP Electronic = 1.2 × 10 −10 W/√Hz for the electronic component at a temperature of 296 K.