---
title: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Phase Noise
description: Low phase noise is a key aspect of any crystal oscillator's performance. Learn about RF phase noise, jitter, and how to understand them in 5 simple steps.
---

[Inside Frequency Control | Bliley Technologies](https://blog.bliley.com)

# [The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Phase Noise](https://blog.bliley.com/ultimate-guide-to-phase-noise)

 Written by [Bliley Technologies](https://blog.bliley.com/author/bliley-technologies) | Jun 15, 2023 1:00:00 PM

Maintaining strong frequency stability in electronic RF circuits by eliminating phase noise is important in many high-end communication applications. This is especially true for precise targeting in radar systems and spectral purity in other communication systems.

Let's take a deep dive into exactly what the terms phase noise and jitter mean. This will help give you a better idea why reducing a system's phase noise is so important.

## What Is Phase Noise?

[Phase noise](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_noise) is represented in the  frequency domain of a waveform and consists of rapid, short-term, random fluctuations in the phase (frequency). This is caused by time domain instabilities (jitter).

 

**Be sure not to confuse phase noise with jitter.** [Jitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jitter) **<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jitter> **is a method of describing the stability of an oscillator in the time domain. It combines all the noise sources together and shows their effect with respect to time.

> #### *In the simplest terms, phase noise describes the stability of an oscillator in the frequency domain, while jitter describes stability in the time domain.*

## A Simple 5-Step Process to Understanding Phase Noise

To build an in-depth understanding of phase noise, try using this simple 5 step process:

 

 

 

### Step 1: Spectral Density

Spectral Density is a measure of a signal's power intensity in the frequency domain.  The spectral density provides a useful way to characterize the **amplitude versus frequency** content of a random signal.

When plotting each spectral density point at varied frequency intervals of your choosing (In this case every 1Hz), you're left with a graph that looks like this:

### Step 2: Signal Power Spectral Density

You are now looking at what is known as the signal power spectral densityof the noise. 

Now focus only on the upper sideband of the graph from fstart to fstop; this is called the "single sideband."

### Step 3: Noise Power Density

We can now refer to the plotted part of the single sideband as noise. Anything above the nominal oscillator frequency (Fosc) and not harmonically related can be considered phase noise. The technical term for this part of our graph is **noise power density**. We measure noise power density in dBW (LOG(Watts)) at this point because of the large range at which we are looking. 

### Step 4: SSB Noise Density

When we combine the single sideband and noise power density, we are actually measuring what's called **SSB (single sideband) noise density**. 

### Step 5: Phase Noise

Finally, when we look at this in the time domain and see a "jittery" waveform, we are looking at "jitter". Because the jitter is much smaller than one complete period, we can say it is caused by "phase fluctuations" (instead of frequency fluctuations). Since these fluctuations are noise, it's actually **phase noise**.

 

In other words:

 

***SSB noise density = phase noise***

 

...and that's where phase noise comes from! Easy, right?

 

**Related: [For more info about phase noise, check out this episode of Phase Out](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pysWE7-mRE4)**

 

 

## What Causes Phase Noise?

Phase noise in higher-end applications (such as radar communications, military communications, and space and satcom communications) is typically caused by:

- High vibrations
- Micro vibrations
- G-forces and acceleration sensitivity

 Using an [anti-vibration, g-sensitivity crystal oscillator](https://www.bliley.com/g-sensitivity-ocxo-solutions) is the best way to eliminate phase noise from all of these potential sources.

 

Some common sources of phase noise in crystal oscillators include:

- [Thermal (Johnson-Nyquist ) Noise](http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/rf-technology-design/noise/thermal-johnson-nyquist-basics-tutorial.php)
- Shot Noise
- [Flicker Noise (Pink Noise)](http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/rf-technology-design/noise/flicker-noise-basics.php)
- [Crystal defects (aging)](https://blog.bliley.com/crystal-aging-and-a-counter-intuitive-tip-to-improve-system-preformance) 

Related: [Low Phase Noise Solutions for Radar & Communication Systems](https://blog.bliley.com/phase-noise-solutions-for-radar-communication-systems)

## What's Next? Learn How to Achieve Low Phase Noise

Achieving low phase noise in a crystal oscillator is *critical* to achieving high , so it's important to have an in-depth understanding of phase noise. [Download our free visual guide to the effects of phase noise on various applications.](https://resources.bliley.com/phase-noise-effects-lp)

[View full post](https://blog.bliley.com/ultimate-guide-to-phase-noise)

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