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Noise and Its Types

The document discusses different types of noise that can affect communication systems, including external noise sources like sky noise, atmospheric noise, and man-made noise, as well as internal noise sources such as shot noise, flicker noise, and thermal noise. Shot noise arises from the discrete nature of current flow, flicker noise is dominant at low frequencies, and thermal noise results from random motion of charges in conducting materials. Understanding different noise sources is important because noise sets limits on system sensitivity and the minimum detectable signal.

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243 views9 pages

Noise and Its Types

The document discusses different types of noise that can affect communication systems, including external noise sources like sky noise, atmospheric noise, and man-made noise, as well as internal noise sources such as shot noise, flicker noise, and thermal noise. Shot noise arises from the discrete nature of current flow, flicker noise is dominant at low frequencies, and thermal noise results from random motion of charges in conducting materials. Understanding different noise sources is important because noise sets limits on system sensitivity and the minimum detectable signal.

Uploaded by

nyma ahmd
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Communication Theory

Unit V

Noise and Its Types

G. Lakshmi Sutha
Assistant Professor
Dept. of ECE
NIT Puducherry, Karaikal
Noise Sources and Types
• Noise is an unwanted signal which tends to disturb the
transmission and processing of signals in communication
systems.

• There are many potential sources of noise in a communication


system. The sources of noise may be external to the system
(e.g., sky noise, atmospheric noise, galactic noise, man-
made noise), or internal to the system (shot noise and thermal
noise).

• Internal noise arises from spontaneous fluctuations of current or


voltage in electrical circuits. This type of noise represents a basic
limitation on the transmission or detection of signals in
communication systems involving the use of electronic devices.
Why is Noise a Concern?
• Noise is important whenever we are dealing with the
weak signals.
• Noise sets the limit on the minimum detectable signal in
detectors and receivers (i.e., limit the sensitivity of the
receiver)
• Noise level determines the upper bound on the gain of an
amplifier, since if the gain is excessive, the amplifier will
saturate.
• What really matters in communication receivers is not the
signal level but signal to noise ratio.
External Noise
• Sky Noise
 The sky noise has a magnitude that varies with frequency and the direction to
which the antenna is pointed.
 Sky noise is normally expressed in terms of the noise temperature (TA) of the
antenna.
 For an antenna pointing to the earth TA =290 K. For an antenna pointing to the
sky, its noise temperature could be a few kelvin.

• Atmospheric Noise
 Static or atmospheric noise is due to a flash of lightning somewhere in the
world.
 This generates an impulse noise that has the greatest magnitude at 10 kHz
and is negligible at frequencies greater than 20 MHz.
External Noise
• Galactic Noise
 Galactic noise is produced by radiation from distant stars.
 It has a maximum value at about 20 MHz and is negligible above 500
MHz.

• Man-made Noise
 When electric current is switched on or off, voltage spikes will be
generated. These transient spikes occur in electronic or mechanical
switches, vehicle ignition systems, light switches, motors, and so on.
 Electromagnetic radiation from communication systems, broadcast
systems, radar, and power lines is everywhere, and the undesired signals
can be picked up by a receiver.
 The interference is always present and could be severe in urban areas.
Internal Noise – Shot Noise
• Shot noise arises in electronic devices such as diodes and
transistors because of the discrete nature of current flow in these
devices.
• For example, in a photo detector circuit a current pulse is
generated every time an electron is emitted by the cathode due
to incident light. The electrons are naturally emitted at random
times.
• Normally it is assumed that the current in an electronic device,
such as diode or transistor, under DC condition is constant at
every instant of time. But, the current consists of a stream of
individual electrons and holes, and it is only the time average flow
which is constant. The fluctuations in the number of electrons (or
holes) constitute the shot noise.
Internal Noise – Shot Noise
• Shot noise has a uniform spectrum density similar to
thermal noise, and the mean square noise current
depends directly on the direct component of current.
• In a p-n junction diode, mean square shot noise current is
given by 2
I sh  2qIf
I = Forward junction current,
q = electric charge
and ∆f = effective noise bandwidth.
Internal Noise – Low Frequency or Flicker Noise
• Flicker noise is the dominant noise in the low frequency range
• Its spectral density function is proportional to 1/f.
• This noise is present in all semiconductor devices under
biasing.
• It is usually associated with material failures or with
imperfection of a fabrication process.
• Flicker noise arises due to fluctuations in carrier density. The
conductivity of the semiconducting material depends on carrier
density. As carrier density fluctuates, conductivity will also
fluctuate. when the direct current flows through the
semiconductor, fluctuating voltage drop is produced, which is
the flicker-noise voltage.
• The 1/f noise is important from 1 Hz to 1 MHz. Beyond 1 MHz,
the thermal noise is more noticeable.
Internal Noise – Thermal Noise
• Thermal noise arises from the random motion of many charges
in conducting medium (e.g., resistors).

• Every resistor R is a source of random thermal noise power,


associated with every resistor is a noise emf En
En

• Mean of En is zero. The mean-square value of the thermal


noise voltage appearing across the terminals of a resistor,
measured in a bandwidth of B Hertz, is given by 4kT BR
n

• Such internally generated noise of a device can be


characterized in terms of (1) noise figure and (2) noise
temperature.

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