A simple test of the Gaussian character of noise

The test consists in the measurement of the noise intensity at the output o f a bandpass filter, and the estimation of the accuracy of the measurement, The confidence interval for the estimate is calculated under the assumptio n that the noise is stationary and Gaussian. This assumption is called "zer o-hypothesis". If a considerable part of the experimental data is outside t he confidence interval, then the zero-hypothesis does not hold. The effect of noise being non-Gaussian is investigated analytically. Experimental data of 1/f noise in GaAs epitaxial films are presented and discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.