Cryogenic high-Q microwave resonators for stable oscillators

Cryogenic microwave resonators have a strong potential as frequency stabilising elements for oscillators to be used in advanced radar systems and high-bitrate microwave communication links. Depending on frequency, either 2D planar MTS-resonators, MTS-shielded sapphire TE011 resonators or cryogenic sapphire whispering-gallery mode resonators represent the best compromise between resonator quality factor and size, We have built and tested an all-cryogenic oscillator based on a WG-resonator at f = 23 GHz, Phase noise measurements indicate values superior to quartz stabilized oscillators. A two-step electric frequency tuning consisting of an integrated varactor phase shifter and a dielectric plunger moved by a piezomechanical transducer is introduced to compensate frequency drifting with temperature. For further improvement of long-time frequency stability we have developed rutile-sapphire composite dielectric resonators. Due to the opposite sign of the temperature slope of the dielectric constant of sapphire and rutile a turning point appears in the temperature dependence of the resonance frequency. Employing a moderate temperature stabilization as good as a few millikelvin around the turning point at T = 78 K, we have demonstrated a long time frequency stability at least as good as for oven controlled quartz oscillators.