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Time interval measurement vs dual mixer method

C
cdelect@juno.com
Sun, Jan 21, 2018 12:14 AM

Luciano,

I don't know of a commercial version.

As you have seen as the two signals move away from close phase
coincidence the system noise level will increase.

This is because the common offset oscillator noise will only cancel when
the phases are closely matching.

This is mainly important for the lower Tau (like 1 to 10 seconds).

I will normally adjust the phase of my reference or DUT so that myTIC is
reading 0.00000XX (close to phase match) and very slowly rising. (with my
setup most DUT will age downward).

Then I start logging the data.

A typical run with a 1 week aged quartz will show the TIC count slowly
increase (and may wrap) and then as the aging continues the count will
reverse and eventually go "below" zero and wrap.

A phase plot will show a nice parabolic looking curve going up and then
as the aging crosses it will curve down.

If there are wraps the plotter program can take them out.

Any long plot of Quartz WILL wrap!

Now if you plot the AD you will see a normal type plot for a good Quartz.

If the TIC count increased well past coincidence only the Higher Taus
will be accurate.

For the lower Tau you need to cut off the data past where it climbed too
high.

I typically will setup as described and run a short log of say 5 minutes.

I might only keep the first 100 Seconds and plot the AD against that.

This will give you an accurate plot for the lower Tau.

These two plots can then be combined to give you the whole range.

The attached plot of an FE405B illustrates this.

The Red plot is against a very good FTS 1200 (2X10-13th at 1 thru just
past 10 Sec)

The blue continuation is against a very good HP 5065A (1.5X10-13th at 100
Sec)

So if the lower Tau are important only use logged data that are in near
phase match!

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Corby

Luciano, I don't know of a commercial version. As you have seen as the two signals move away from close phase coincidence the system noise level will increase. This is because the common offset oscillator noise will only cancel when the phases are closely matching. This is mainly important for the lower Tau (like 1 to 10 seconds). I will normally adjust the phase of my reference or DUT so that myTIC is reading 0.00000XX (close to phase match) and very slowly rising. (with my setup most DUT will age downward). Then I start logging the data. A typical run with a 1 week aged quartz will show the TIC count slowly increase (and may wrap) and then as the aging continues the count will reverse and eventually go "below" zero and wrap. A phase plot will show a nice parabolic looking curve going up and then as the aging crosses it will curve down. If there are wraps the plotter program can take them out. Any long plot of Quartz WILL wrap! Now if you plot the AD you will see a normal type plot for a good Quartz. If the TIC count increased well past coincidence only the Higher Taus will be accurate. For the lower Tau you need to cut off the data past where it climbed too high. I typically will setup as described and run a short log of say 5 minutes. I might only keep the first 100 Seconds and plot the AD against that. This will give you an accurate plot for the lower Tau. These two plots can then be combined to give you the whole range. The attached plot of an FE405B illustrates this. The Red plot is against a very good FTS 1200 (2X10-13th at 1 thru just past 10 Sec) The blue continuation is against a very good HP 5065A (1.5X10-13th at 100 Sec) So if the lower Tau are important only use logged data that are in near phase match! Hope this helps! Cheers, Corby
T
timeok@timeok.it
Sun, Jan 21, 2018 9:23 AM

Corby,
thanks for the information.

I'm definitely interested in the short therm ADEV but especially for Tau from 1 day and over to test high stability standard over the time.
I will have further tests.
Cheers,
Luciano

Da "time-nuts" time-nuts-bounces@febo.com
A time-nuts@febo.com
Cc
Data Sat, 20 Jan 2018 16:14:10 -0800
Oggetto [time-nuts] Time interval measurement vs dual mixer method
Luciano,

I don't know of a commercial version.

As you have seen as the two signals move away from close phase
coincidence the system noise level will increase.

This is because the common offset oscillator noise will only cancel when
the phases are closely matching.

This is mainly important for the lower Tau (like 1 to 10 seconds).

I will normally adjust the phase of my reference or DUT so that myTIC is
reading 0.00000XX (close to phase match) and very slowly rising. (with my
setup most DUT will age downward).

Then I start logging the data.

A typical run with a 1 week aged quartz will show the TIC count slowly
increase (and may wrap) and then as the aging continues the count will
reverse and eventually go "below" zero and wrap.

A phase plot will show a nice parabolic looking curve going up and then
as the aging crosses it will curve down.

If there are wraps the plotter program can take them out.

Any long plot of Quartz WILL wrap!

Now if you plot the AD you will see a normal type plot for a good Quartz.

If the TIC count increased well past coincidence only the Higher Taus
will be accurate.

For the lower Tau you need to cut off the data past where it climbed too
high.

I typically will setup as described and run a short log of say 5 minutes.

I might only keep the first 100 Seconds and plot the AD against that.

This will give you an accurate plot for the lower Tau.

These two plots can then be combined to give you the whole range.

The attached plot of an FE405B illustrates this.

The Red plot is against a very good FTS 1200 (2X10-13th at 1 thru just
past 10 Sec)

The blue continuation is against a very good HP 5065A (1.5X10-13th at 100
Sec)

So if the lower Tau are important only use logged data that are in near
phase match!

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Corby

Corby, thanks for the information. I'm definitely interested in the short therm ADEV but especially for Tau from 1 day and over to test high stability standard over the time. I will have further tests. Cheers, Luciano Da "time-nuts" time-nuts-bounces@febo.com A time-nuts@febo.com Cc Data Sat, 20 Jan 2018 16:14:10 -0800 Oggetto [time-nuts] Time interval measurement vs dual mixer method Luciano, I don't know of a commercial version. As you have seen as the two signals move away from close phase coincidence the system noise level will increase. This is because the common offset oscillator noise will only cancel when the phases are closely matching. This is mainly important for the lower Tau (like 1 to 10 seconds). I will normally adjust the phase of my reference or DUT so that myTIC is reading 0.00000XX (close to phase match) and very slowly rising. (with my setup most DUT will age downward). Then I start logging the data. A typical run with a 1 week aged quartz will show the TIC count slowly increase (and may wrap) and then as the aging continues the count will reverse and eventually go "below" zero and wrap. A phase plot will show a nice parabolic looking curve going up and then as the aging crosses it will curve down. If there are wraps the plotter program can take them out. Any long plot of Quartz WILL wrap! Now if you plot the AD you will see a normal type plot for a good Quartz. If the TIC count increased well past coincidence only the Higher Taus will be accurate. For the lower Tau you need to cut off the data past where it climbed too high. I typically will setup as described and run a short log of say 5 minutes. I might only keep the first 100 Seconds and plot the AD against that. This will give you an accurate plot for the lower Tau. These two plots can then be combined to give you the whole range. The attached plot of an FE405B illustrates this. The Red plot is against a very good FTS 1200 (2X10-13th at 1 thru just past 10 Sec) The blue continuation is against a very good HP 5065A (1.5X10-13th at 100 Sec) So if the lower Tau are important only use logged data that are in near phase match! Hope this helps! Cheers, Corby
BK
Bob kb8tq
Sun, Jan 21, 2018 2:04 PM

Hi

What level of stability are you trying to measure?

What sort of offset frequency are you running?

What kind (phase noise / spurs / adev) offset oscillator are you using?

What sort of limiter are you running with what sort of pre filtering?

We have run around on a lot of generalities. You may have some issues
that are specific to your setup. There is no “one size fits all” approach here.
If you are running a couple of oscillators it the THz region and trying to look
at ADEV from 1us to two months tau with one setup, a lot of what we have
been saying simply does not apply.

Bob

On Jan 21, 2018, at 4:23 AM, timeok@timeok.it wrote:

Corby,
thanks for the information.

I'm definitely interested in the short therm ADEV but especially for Tau from 1 day and over to test high stability standard over the time.
I will have further tests.
Cheers,
Luciano

Da "time-nuts" time-nuts-bounces@febo.com
A time-nuts@febo.com
Cc
Data Sat, 20 Jan 2018 16:14:10 -0800
Oggetto [time-nuts] Time interval measurement vs dual mixer method
Luciano,

I don't know of a commercial version.

As you have seen as the two signals move away from close phase
coincidence the system noise level will increase.

This is because the common offset oscillator noise will only cancel when
the phases are closely matching.

This is mainly important for the lower Tau (like 1 to 10 seconds).

I will normally adjust the phase of my reference or DUT so that myTIC is
reading 0.00000XX (close to phase match) and very slowly rising. (with my
setup most DUT will age downward).

Then I start logging the data.

A typical run with a 1 week aged quartz will show the TIC count slowly
increase (and may wrap) and then as the aging continues the count will
reverse and eventually go "below" zero and wrap.

A phase plot will show a nice parabolic looking curve going up and then
as the aging crosses it will curve down.

If there are wraps the plotter program can take them out.

Any long plot of Quartz WILL wrap!

Now if you plot the AD you will see a normal type plot for a good Quartz.

If the TIC count increased well past coincidence only the Higher Taus
will be accurate.

For the lower Tau you need to cut off the data past where it climbed too
high.

I typically will setup as described and run a short log of say 5 minutes.

I might only keep the first 100 Seconds and plot the AD against that.

This will give you an accurate plot for the lower Tau.

These two plots can then be combined to give you the whole range.

The attached plot of an FE405B illustrates this.

The Red plot is against a very good FTS 1200 (2X10-13th at 1 thru just
past 10 Sec)

The blue continuation is against a very good HP 5065A (1.5X10-13th at 100
Sec)

So if the lower Tau are important only use logged data that are in near
phase match!

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Corby


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Hi What level of stability are you trying to measure? What sort of offset frequency are you running? What kind (phase noise / spurs / adev) offset oscillator are you using? What sort of limiter are you running with what sort of pre filtering? We have run around on a lot of generalities. You may have some issues that are specific to your setup. There is no “one size fits all” approach here. If you are running a couple of oscillators it the THz region and trying to look at ADEV from 1us to two months tau with one setup, a lot of what we have been saying simply does not apply. Bob > On Jan 21, 2018, at 4:23 AM, timeok@timeok.it wrote: > > > Corby, > thanks for the information. > > I'm definitely interested in the short therm ADEV but especially for Tau from 1 day and over to test high stability standard over the time. > I will have further tests. > Cheers, > Luciano > > > Da "time-nuts" time-nuts-bounces@febo.com > A time-nuts@febo.com > Cc > Data Sat, 20 Jan 2018 16:14:10 -0800 > Oggetto [time-nuts] Time interval measurement vs dual mixer method > Luciano, > > I don't know of a commercial version. > > As you have seen as the two signals move away from close phase > coincidence the system noise level will increase. > > This is because the common offset oscillator noise will only cancel when > the phases are closely matching. > > This is mainly important for the lower Tau (like 1 to 10 seconds). > > I will normally adjust the phase of my reference or DUT so that myTIC is > reading 0.00000XX (close to phase match) and very slowly rising. (with my > setup most DUT will age downward). > > Then I start logging the data. > > A typical run with a 1 week aged quartz will show the TIC count slowly > increase (and may wrap) and then as the aging continues the count will > reverse and eventually go "below" zero and wrap. > > A phase plot will show a nice parabolic looking curve going up and then > as the aging crosses it will curve down. > > If there are wraps the plotter program can take them out. > > Any long plot of Quartz WILL wrap! > > Now if you plot the AD you will see a normal type plot for a good Quartz. > > If the TIC count increased well past coincidence only the Higher Taus > will be accurate. > > For the lower Tau you need to cut off the data past where it climbed too > high. > > I typically will setup as described and run a short log of say 5 minutes. > > I might only keep the first 100 Seconds and plot the AD against that. > > This will give you an accurate plot for the lower Tau. > > These two plots can then be combined to give you the whole range. > > The attached plot of an FE405B illustrates this. > > The Red plot is against a very good FTS 1200 (2X10-13th at 1 thru just > past 10 Sec) > > The blue continuation is against a very good HP 5065A (1.5X10-13th at 100 > Sec) > > So if the lower Tau are important only use logged data that are in near > phase match! > > Hope this helps! > > Cheers, > > Corby > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there.