title: Extremely low phase noise UHF oscillators utilizing high-overtone, bulk-acoustic resonators.
abstract: High-overtone, bulk acoustic resonators (HBAR) have been designed that exhibit 9-dB insertion loss and loaded Q values of 80000 at 640 MHz with out-of-phase resonances occurring every 2.5 MHz. These resonators have been used as ovenized frequency-control elements in very low phase noise oscillators. The oscillator sustaining stage circuitry incorporates low-1/f noise modular RF amplifiers, Schottky-diode ALC, and a miniature 2-pole helical filter for suppression of HBAR adjacent resonant responses. Measurement of oscillator output signal flicker-of-frequency noise confirms that state-of-the-art levels of short-term frequency stability have been obtained. Sustaining stage circuit contribution to resulting oscillator flicker-of-frequency noise is 7-10 dB below that due to the resonators themselves. At 16-dBm resonator drive, an oscillator output signal white phase noise floor level of -175 dBc/Hz is achieved.
authors.affiliation: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Driscoll
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Jelen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matthews