On the 1/f Frequency Noise in Ultra-Stable Quartz Oscillators

The frequency flicker of an oscillator, which appears as a 1/f3 line in the phase noise spectral density, and as a floor on the Allan deviation plot, originates from two basic phenomena, namely: (1) the 1/f phase noise turned into 1/f frequency noise via the Leeson effect, and (2) the 1/f fluctuation of the resonator natural frequency. The discussion on which is the dominant effect, thus on how to improve the stability of the oscillator, has been going on for years without giving a clear answer. This article tackles the question by analyzing the phase noise spectrum of several commercial oscillators and laboratory prototypes, and demonstrates that the fluctuation of the resonator natural frequency is the dominant effect. The investigation method starts from reverse engineering the oscillator phase noise in order to show that if the Leeson effect was dominant, the resonator merit factor Q would be too low as compared to the available technology

[1]  V. Kroupa,et al.  The state of the art of flicker frequency noise in BAW and SAW quartz resonators , 1988, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[2]  Bristol , 1907 .

[3]  J. Brice.  Crystals for quartz resonators , 1985 .

[4]  B. Besson,et al.  10 MHz hyperstable quartz oscillators performances , 1999, Proceedings of the 1999 Joint Meeting of the European Frequency and Time Forum and the IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (Cat. No.99CH36313).

[5]  Michael E. Tobar,et al.  Advances in atomic fountains , 2004 .

[6]  J. R. Norton.  BVA-type quartz oscillator for spacecraft , 1991, Proceedings of the 45th Annual Symposium on Frequency Control 1991.

[7]  H.T. Friis,et al.  Noise Figures of Radio Receivers , 1944, Proceedings of the IRE.

[8]  F L. Walls.  The Quest to Understand and Reduce 1/f Noise in Amplifiers and BAW Quartz Oscillators , 1995 .

[9]  O. H. Lowry.  Academic press. , 1972, Analytical chemistry.

[10]  Fred L. Walls,et al.  Measurement of the Short-Term Stability of Quartz Crystal Resonators and the Implications for Crystal Oscillator Design and Applications , 1975, IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement.

[11]  Enrico Rubiola,et al.  The Leeson effect - Phase noise in quasilinear oscillators , 2005 .

[12]  Donald B. Percival,et al.  Spectral Analysis for Physical Applications , 1993 .

[13]  J. R. Norton.  Advanced technology oscillator for small spacecraft , 1995, Proceedings of the 1995 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (49th Annual Symposium).

[14]  S.C. Gupta,et al.  Phase-locked loops , 1975, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[15]  Fred L. Walls,et al.  Noise figure vs. PM noise measurements: a study at microwave frequencies , 2003, IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium and PDA Exhibition Jointly with the 17th European Frequency and Time Forum, 2003. Proceedings of the 2003.

[16]  M. Olivier,et al.  Analysis of the Internal Noise of Quartz-Crystal Oscillators , 1975, IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement.

[17]  J. Vanier,et al.  The quantum physics of atomic frequency standards , 1989 .

[18]  V. Chandelier,et al.  New miniature ultra-stable oscillators , 1999, Proceedings of the 1999 Joint Meeting of the European Frequency and Time Forum and the IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (Cat. No.99CH36313).

[19]  D. G. Watts,et al.  Spectral analysis and its applications , 1968 .

[20]  Floyd M. Gardner,et al.  Phaselock techniques , 1984, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics.

[21]  William F. Egan,et al.  Phase-Lock Basics , 1998 .

[22]  E. Rubiola,et al.  Flicker noise measurement of HF quartz resonators , 2000, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[23]  Peter Atkinson,et al.  Phase-Locked and Frequency Feedback Systems , 1979, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics.

[24]  R.K. Karlquist.  A new type of balanced-bridge controlled oscillator , 2000, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[25]  Verzekeren Naar Sparen,et al.  Cambridge , 1969, Humphrey Burton: In My Own Time.

[26]  S. Galliou,et al.  Recent results on quartz crystal LD-cuts operating in oscillators , 2004, Proceedings of the 2004 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium and Exposition, 2004..

[27]  V. F. Kroupa.  Theory of 1/f noise-a new approach [rapid communication] , 2005 .

[28]  R. Besson.  A New "Electrodeless" Resonator Design , 1977 .

[29]  F. Walls,et al.  Origin of 1/f PM and AM noise in bipolar junction transistor amplifiers , 1997, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[30]  Katherine D. Blake.  To San Francisco , 1911 .

[31]  D. Leeson.  A simple model of feedback oscillator noise spectrum , 1966 .

[32]  Michael M. Driscoll.  Low Frequency Noise Quartz Crystal Oscillator , 1975, IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement.

[33]  V. Giordano,et al.  Flicker noise measurement of HF quartz resonators , 1999, Proceedings of the 1999 Joint Meeting of the European Frequency and Time Forum and the IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (Cat. No.99CH36313).

[34]  J. Rutman.  Characterization of phase and frequency instabilities in precision frequency sources: Fifteen years of progress , 1978, Proceedings of the IEEE.