Spectral analysis and Allan variance calculation in the case of phase noise

Abstract: In this work, time series analysis techniques are used to analyze sequential, equispaced mass measurements of a Si density artifact, collected from an electromechanical transducer. Specifically, techniques such as Power Spectral Density, Bretthorst periodogram, Allan variance and Modified Allan variance can provide much insight regarding the stochastic correlations that are induced on the outcome of an experiment by the measurement system and establish criteria for the limited use of the classical variance in metrology. These techniques are used in conjunction with power law models of stochastic noise in order to characterize time or frequency regimes by pointing out the different types of frequency modulated (FM) or phase modulated (PM) noise. In the case of phase noise, only Modified Allan variance can tell between white PM and flicker PM noise. Oscillations in the system can be detected accurately with the Bretthorst periodogram. Through the detection of colored noise, which is expected to appear in almost all electronic devices, a lower threshold of measurement uncertainty is obtained and the white noise model of statistical independence can no longer provide accurate results for the examined data set.