Time domain analysis is useful for measuring impedance values along a transmission
line and for evaluating a device problem (discontinuity) in time or distance. Time
domain display provides a more intuitive and direct look at the device under test
(DUT) characteristics. In addition, it gives more meaningful information concerning
the broadband response of a transmission system than other measuring techniques
by showing the effect of each discontinuity as a function of time or distance. This
document will focus on time domain analysis (displays) generated from vector
network analyzers (VNAs). The intent is to provide engineers with frequency
domain background, an in-depth view of how a time domain display is created
from frequency domain data (S-parameters) and how to apply the time domain
display to common problems in RF systems.
Agilent offers other documents that cover in detail the use of time domain displays
(using data captured with either a time domain re?ectometer (oscilloscope) or VNA).
See the bibliography for more details.