Intermodulation products from nonlinearities in transmission lines and connectors at microwave frequencies

Abstract
An experimental investigation of intermodulation products generated by nonlinear effects at contacts between similar and dissimilar metals has been carried out, and the results are reported and discussed here. Seven contact materials were used, and the effects of oxidation and electroplating of contacts were observed. Measurements of 3rd-order (2fA-fB) and 5th-order (3fA-2fB) intermodulation products were made using two S-band signal sources, of frequencies fA and fB, respectively, with a centre frequency of 3 GHz.