Comparison of analog continuum correlators for remote sensing and radio astronomy

Two different designs of analog correlators for radiometry are compared in this paper. A continuum correlator based on a microwave nonlinear device is a simple and inexpensive way to detect wide-band polarized signals. Analysis and extensive measurements including linearity, dynamic range, amplitude response, phase balance, and stability are presented, and the suitability of the designs for microwave radiometry is discussed. Both correlators showed nearly ideal performance. A novel method for determining the correlator degradation factor is applied.