Microwave Phase Detection at the Level of $10^{-11}$ rad

Abstract

We report on a noise measurement system with the highest spectral resolution ever achieved in the microwave domain. It is capable of detecting the phase fluctuations of $rms$ amplitude of $2\times10^{-11} rad/\sqrt{Hz}$ at Fourier frequencies above few $kHz$. Such precision allows the study of intrinsic fluctuations in various microwave components and materials, as well as precise tests of fundamental physics. Employing this system we discovered a previously unknown phenomenon of down-conversion of pump oscillator phase noise into the low-frequency voltage fluctuations.