A frequently used Q factor measurement procedure consists of determining the values of the input reflection coefficient vs. frequency with the use of a network analyzer, and processing the measured values with a data-fitting procedure to evaluate the location and the size of the corresponding Q-circle. That information is then used to compute the value of the loaded and unloaded Q factors and the coupling coefficient of the resonator being tested. This paper describes a novel method of post-processing the measured data, which also provides information on the uncertainty of the obtained results. Numerical examples show that this a-posteriori procedure can not only provide the uncertainty estimates but also improve the accuracy of results, even in the presence of a significant level of random measurement noise.
Q-factor measurement by using a Vector Network Analyser
