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The Fourier frequency is a fictitious
frequency used in Fourier analysis of a signal. Zero Fourier frequency corresponds to the
carrier, and a negative Fourier frequency refers to the region below the
carrier. The integral of the spectral
density over all Fourier frequencies from minus infinity to infinity is the
mean-square value of the quantity. The
spectral density of phase-noise Sf(f') is important because it is directly related to
the performance of oscillators in RF signal processing applications. Up until 1988, the single-sideband (SSB)
noise power per Hz to total signal power ratio was often specified for
oscillators instead of the phase spectral density. This ratio has been designated L(f). In IEEE standard 1139-1988 (current version
is 1139-1999), the definition of L(f) was changed to one-half Sf(f'). When defined this way, L(f) is
equal to the SSB noise-to-signal ratio only as long as the integrated
phase-noise from f' to infinity is small compared to one rad2.
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