Jeff Mock wrote: > How does crystal aging look on a graph of temp versus frequency.... > What does this graph look like as a crystal ages? Does the optimal > operating temperature change over time, that is, does the graph tend to > move left and right, or does aging tend to move the graph vertically > (the optimal freq stays the same, but the optimal operating temperature > changes as a result of aging).
I can confirm Rick's statement, that there is no noticable effect of aging on the turnover temperature (TOT). Looking at it from physics standpoint, frequncy aging is mainly caused by minor changes of vibrating mass and/or by changes in elastic properties (both due to various mechanisms). See my earlier thrad on aging mechanisms. On the other hand, the turn-over temperature is primarily governed by the cut angle (in connection with the resonator shape etc.). Mass loading, i.e. changes of electrode mass, has also an infuence, but this is much weaker. Roughly stated: a change of the TOT by one degC may be caused by a variation of the mass loading by an amount eqivalent to a frequency change of n*1000 ppm or so. This means that usual long term aging of precision crystals of a few 100 ppb or even one or two ppm may cause changes of TOT in the range of mK or less, which is - much smaller than the accuracy of the determination of TOT - neglictable compared to the impact of the aging of thermistors and of the frequency determining capacitors and inductors of the sustaining oscillator stage Regards Bernd DK1AG _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
