arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Fabrice Sthal.
The first step, before investigating physical origins of noise in resonators, is to investigate correlations between external measurement parameters and the resonator noise. Tests and measurements are mainly performed on an advanced phase noise measurement system, recently set up. The resonator noise is examined as a function of the sensitivity to the drive level, the temperature operating point and the tuning capacitor.
High-stability quartz oscillators are needed in a number of space applications. A short-term stability of parts in 10^{-14} [Allan deviation σy(τ) ] is sometimes required, for integration time τof approximately 1-10 s. The Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and the FEMTO-ST Institute (formerly LPMO and LCEP), have been collaborating for many years in this domain, aiming at measuring and at understanding the oscillator noise. The highest stability has been observed on 5 MHz and 10 MHz bulk acoustic-wave resonators. Yet this stability is still not sufficient, or the the manufacturing method is not reproducible. Recently, the analysis of a few premium-stability oscillators has demonstrated that the oscillator frequency instability is due to the fluctuation of the resonator natural frequency, rather than to the noise of the sustaining amplifier via the Leeson effect. It is therefore natural to give attention to the measurement of the resonator fluctuations.