Relationship of AM to PM noise in selected RF oscillators

Author

Nelson, Lisa M. ; Nelson, Craig W. ; Walls, Fred L.

Author_Institution

Time & Frequency Div., Nat. Inst. of Stand. & Technol., Boulder, CO, USA

Volume

41

Issue

5

fYear

1994

Firstpage

680

Lastpage

684

Abstract

We have studied the amplitude modulation (AM) and phase modulation (PM) noise in a number of 5 MHz and 100 MHz oscillators to provide a basis for developing models of the origin of AM noise. To adequately characterize the AM noise in high performance quartz oscillators, we found it necessary to use two-channel cross-correlation AM detection. In the quartz oscillators studied, the power spectral density (PSD) of the f/sup -1/ and f/sup 0/ regions of AM noise is closely related to that of the PM noise. The major difference between different oscillators of the same design depends on the flicker noise performance of the resonator. We therefore propose that the f/sup -1/ and f/sup 0/ regions of AM and PM noise arise from the same physical processes, probably originating in the sustaining amplifier.<>

Keywords

amplitude modulation; crystal resonators; phase modulation; quartz; radiofrequency oscillators; random noise; 100 MHz; 5 MHz; AM noise; PM noise; RF oscillators; SiO/sub 2/; amplitude modulation noise; flicker noise; phase modulation noise; power spectral density; quartz oscillators; resonator; two-channel cross-correlation AM detection; 1f noise; Amplitude modulation; Noise level; Noise measurement; Oscillators; Phase modulation; Phase noise; Radio frequency; Reactive power; Signal detection;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-3010

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/58.308503

Filename

308503