Supplementary Material

Open literature

1. E. Rubiola, R. Brendel, A generalization of the Leeson effect, April 2010 (48 pages, PDF 2.3 MB). arXiv:1004.5539 [physics.ins-det]. This report extends the Leeson effect to the analysis of amplitude noise and to the amplitude-phase coupling, introducing a theoretical framework for the analysis of other oscillators, like masers, lasers, and opto-electronic oscillators. Though recommended as a complement to the book, the text is self-consistent.

Seminars

1. E. Rubiola, The Leeson effect (88 slides, PDF, 17.3 MB).

   The oscillator, inherently, turns a phase shift of the loop into a change of the oscillation frequency, hence phase noise into frequency noise. Hence the phase, which is the integral of the frequency, diverges in the long run. The same behavior shows up in all feedback oscillators, independently of technology and frequency, thus also in lasers. This mechanism is known as the "Leeson model" after a short article published in 1964. On my side, I prefer the term "Leeson effect" in order to emphasize that this phenomenon is far more general than a simple model.

   After a limited-time tenure given at the NASA-Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2004, this is the initial seed of the book.

2. E. Rubiola, V. Giordano, On the 1/f noise of ultra-stable quartz oscillators (23 slides, PDF, 3 MB). Listen the conference (MPEG-4 audio+slides, 100 MB).

   In quartz oscillators, the fluctuation of the resonator's natural frequency is largerthan the phase noise of the electronics turned into frequency noise via the Leeson effect. This conclusion comes only after undisclosing all the secrets of the phase-to-frequency conversion in oscillators.

   This conference, presented at the 2006 IEEE IFCS and at the 2006 EFTF, is the basis of a peer-reviewed article (IEEE Tr. UFFC 54(1) p.15-22, Jan 2007) and of Chapter 6 of my book.

3. E. Rubiola, Basics of phase noise (71 slides, PDF 7 MB).

   Before getting through the Leeson effect, you may need a general introduction to phase noise and frequency stability. These slides were prepared for a 2-hour tutorial, presented at several editions of the IEEE IFCS.

Seminars on related subjects

1. E. Rubiola, The magic of cross-spectrum measurements from DC to optics (54 slides, 10.1 MB).

   When it is possible to measure a device with two equal instruments, the cross-spectrum measurement enables to reduce the instrument background noise proportionally to 1/√m, where m is the number of averaged spectra. Besides the measurement of the oscillator phase noise and frequency stability, this technique finds applicatgions in a variety of fields, from fundamental DC voltage measurements to radio astronomy.

   These slides were prepared for a 2-hour seminar and for an invited talk at the 2008 EFTF.

2. E. Rubiola, High-resolution frequency counters (53 slides, PDF 6.2 MB).

   Whoever works with precision oscillator will need a deep understanding of the frequency counter. Some of the techniqiues described are of general usefulness, and suitable to implementation in a small FPGA.

   These slides were prepared for a 1-2hour seminar given at the FEMTO-ST Institute, at the Université Henri Poincaré, and at the NASA-Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory.