egenstøy

Egenstøy, which translates to "self-noise" or "intrinsic noise" in English, refers to the random fluctuations within an electronic or physical system that are not caused by external influences. These fluctuations are inherent to the components and processes of the system itself. In electronics, egenstøy is often associated with the thermal motion of charge carriers within resistors, leading to Johnson-Nyquist noise. It can also arise from the random emission and collection of charge carriers in semiconductor devices, known as shot noise. Other sources of egenstøy in electronic circuits include flicker noise (1/f noise) and avalanche noise.

The presence of egenstøy is a fundamental limitation in many measurement and sensing applications. It sets a lower bound on the smallest signal that can be reliably detected. For instance, in sensitive audio amplifiers, egenstøy can manifest as a faint hiss when no signal is present. Similarly, in scientific instruments, such as photomultiplier tubes or CCD cameras, egenstøy can obscure faint signals from the phenomena being observed. Minimizing egenstøy is a key goal in the design of high-performance electronic circuits and sensitive measurement devices to improve signal-to-noise ratio and enhance overall performance. The characterization and understanding of egenstøy are crucial for predicting and improving the performance of various technologies.