Design of a Miniaturized Low Noise 10 MHz Crystal Oscillator for Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standard

Abstract

A miniaturized low noise quartz crystal oscillator for rubidium atomic frequency standard (RAFS) was designed in this paper, with the oscillation circuit applying Colpitts parallel configuration and SC-cut crystal resonator. The phase noise of quartz crystal oscillator was analyzed based on Leeson model, and the oscillation circuit was simulated by using ADS software, which can provide guidance for oscillator design and debugging. Finally, a low noise crystal oscillator with volume of 22 mm×28.5 mm×13 mm has been completed. Test results show that it reached the phase noise of −102.7 dBc/Hz@1 Hz and −164.2 dBc/Hz@10 kHz, and the short-term stability of 1.73×10−12/s.

Keywords

• crystal oscillator
• rubidium atomic frequency standard
• phase noise
• frequency stability