Nonlinear analysis of microwave frequency synthesizers: stability and incidental FM

The nonlinear dynamics of microwave synthesizers based on type-II loops has been analyzed, with a realistic description of the loop devices. In this way it has been possible to simulate incidental frequency modulation and predict hysteresis and chaotic responses, which are commonly observed in practice. A 2-3 GHz synthesizer with a JK flip-flop phase detector has been simulated and measured with very good agreement.