A Technique for the Measurement of the Power Spectra of Very Weak Signals

1 June 1962

journal article
Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IRE Transactions on Space Electronics and Telemetry

Vol. SET-8 (2) , 170-173
https://doi.org/10.1109/iret-set.1962.5008827

Abstract

A technique is described for the measurement of power spectra which is designed to distinguish the spectrum of a weak signal which is masked by strong background noise. The method was applied during the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Venus radar experiment to study spectral characteristics of the echo. An analysis is given which describes the performance of the system in such an application.

Keywords

POWER MEASUREMENT
NOISE MEASUREMENT
STABILITY
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
TRANSMISSION LINE MEASUREMENTS
MASERS
ANTENNA MEASUREMENTS
TEMPERATURE SENSORS
PROPULSION
SMOOTHING METHODS