What does the sweep generator card (A3A2) produce?

The sweep generator card (A3A2) is primarily responsible for producing reference sweeps and defines the negative and positive sweep gates. In radar systems, these sweeps are essential for determining the timing and frequency of transmitted radar signals. The reference sweeps serve as a baseline for the radar operation, ensuring that the system can accurately process and interpret the received signals.

Additionally, the negative and positive sweep gates are integral in controlling the timing of when the radar system sends out and receives signals, facilitating accurate measurements and data collection. This allows the radar system to function effectively in obtaining consistent and reliable data for analysis.

The other choices refer to different functionalities that are not directly associated with the primary role of the sweep generator card. For instance, power supply signals relate to providing energy to components, frequency modulation signals involve altering the frequency of a signal, and trigger pulses for data collection are about initiating data gathering rather than the generation of sweeps. Each of these functions is critical in radar operations but falls outside the specific capabilities of the A3A2 sweep generator card.