N8481S

-35 to 20 dBm, N-Type (male) Balance Thermocouple Power Sensor, DC to 18 GHz

The Keysight N8481S Series Balance Thermocouple Power Sensor is intended to be used as a measurement standard for RF power. N8481S is suitable for use in a microcalorimeter-based primary measurement standard and as a secondary or reference measurement standard. The new balance thermocouple power sensor offers a broad frequency range DC up to 18 GHz, high maximum input power of +20dBm, fast measurement speed/settling time as well as ease of maintenance.

The Keysight N8481S balance thermocouple power sensor introduces a new measurement method suitable for the highest echelon of RF power traceability. This power sensor is intended to be used within microcalorimeters as a primary measurement standard and individually as a transfer or reference measurement standard for RF power in coaxial sensors available in Type-N (male) connector styles. It is based on the calorimetric style power measurement where the measurement approach is direct DC to RF power substitution. The unknown RF power is substituted by traceable DC power.

The Keysight N8480S Series balance thermocouple power sensors are designed with dual thermopile power detectors constructed on a single chip. There are two sets of thermopiles in the detectors that are constructed to be closely matched for power cancellation and thermal stability. One set of thermopiles detects the heat generated by RF power in the load resistor and the second set of thermopiles detects heat generated by a DC-fed load resistor. When the DC power applied to the DC load resistor is equivalent to the RF power, the two thermopiles will be equal, and the sensor is at balance.