Open Circuit Termination

Shielded, coaxial opens are used in the calibration of vector network analyzers to provide a nominal 180° phase offset from a compatible reference short over a wide range of frequencies. At these frequencies, open circuit terminations are inherently imperfect. Shielding the open essentially eliminates radiation loss, but creates a residual frequency-sensitive capacitance. An accurate knowledge of the open’s effective capacitance is essential to an accurate calibration of the analyzer. Maury opens are characterized for effective capacitance versus frequency by means of a fourth order polynomial curve fit, and the nominal capacitance coefficients are provided with each unit.