Development of a 10 MHz oscillator working with an LGT crystal resonator: preliminary results

Presently, to our knowledge, measurement of the noise of langatate (LGT) crystal oscillators has not previously been reported. First results of such a measurement are given in this paper. They have been obtained from 10 MHz resonator prototypes tested with a dedicated electronics. The main steps of the resonator manufacturing are described in this paper. Good quality factors, close to 1.4 10(6), have already been achieved on the 5th overtone of the thickness shear mode of LGT Y cuts, even if the energy trapping should still be optimized. The motional parameters of these resonator prototypes are quite different from those of usual quartz crystal resonators. As a consequence, dedicated sustaining electronics have been designed. The explored options are reported to justify the implemented one. Moreover, the high thermal sensitivity of LGT crystal resonators (parabolic f-T curve) requires that particular attention be paid to the oven thermal stability. This important feature is also pointed out in the paper. The preliminary version of the resulting system exhibits a relative frequency stability of 6 10(-12).