Citation

Abstract

We present the design for a new short-term frequency standard, the voltagecontrolled sapphire oscillator, as a practical and lower-cost alternative to a cryogenic sapphire oscillator operating at liquid helium temperatures. Performance goals are a frequency stability of 1×10−14 (1 second ≤ τ ≤ 100 seconds), more than 2 years of continuous operation, and practical operability. Key elements include the sapphire resonator, low-power and long-life cryocooler, frequency compensation method, and cryo-Pound design. We report the design verification, experimental results, and test results of the cryocooler environmental sensitivity, as well as a preliminary stability measurement.

Keywords

oscillator sapphire oscillator voltage-controlled sapphire oscillator

Details

Volume
42-170
Published
August 15, 2007
Pages
1–15
File Size
684.3 KB