Virtual VNA 3.1: Noncoherent-Detection-Based Nonreciprocal Scattering Matrix Estimation Leveraging a Tunable Load Network

We refine the recently introduced “Virtual VNA 3.0” technique to remove the need for coherent detection. The resulting “Virtual VNA 3.1” technique can unambiguously estimate the full scattering matrix of a non-reciprocal, linear, passive, time-invariant device under test (DUT) with <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">N</i> monomodal ports using an NA-channel coherent wavefront generator and an <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">N</i><sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">A</sub>-channel non-coherent detector, where <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">N</i><sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">A</sub> < <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">N</i>. Waves are injected and received only via a fixed set of <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">N</i><sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">A</sub> > 1 “accessible” DUT ports while the remaining <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">N</i><sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">S</sub> “not-directly-accessible” DUT ports are terminated by a specific tunable load network. To resolve all ambiguities, an additional modified setup is required in which waves are injected and received via a known 2<italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">N</i><sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">A</sub>-port system connected to the DUT’s accessible ports. We experimentally validate our method for <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">N</i><sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">A</sub> = <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">N</i><sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">S</sub> = 4 considering a non-reciprocal eight-port circuit as DUT. By eliminating the need for coherent detection, our work reduces the hardware complexity which may facilitate applications to large-scale or higher-frequency systems. Additionally, our work provides fundamental insights into the minimal requirements to fully and unambiguously characterize a non-reciprocal DUT.