How Can Crest Factor And CCDF Assess Amplifier Linearity?

Nonlinear amplifiers can cause signal distortions, which can negatively impact system performance. Therefore, testing amplifier linearity is crucial to maintain high-quality communications. Digitally modulated signals, such as those used in orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, often have high peak-to-average power ratios (PAPR) or crest factors, which can pose challenges for amplifiers. High PAPR signals can lead to waveform clipping and reduced signal quality. This video explains how crest factor measurements and complementary cumulative distribution function (CCDF) curves can be used to assess amplifier linearity.