Theo1: Characterization of very long-term frequency stability

Published

August 23, 2004

Author(s)

David A. Howe, T Tasset

Abstract

Theo1 is the first new species of variance that addresses a particularly difficult measurement problem, namely, obtaining reliable estimation of frequency stability for sample periods that are long compared to the length of a data run. Theo1 has statistical properties that are like the AlIan variance (Avar), but Theo1 also has two advantages over other frequency stability estimators: (1) it can evaluate frequency stability at a sample period (Τ) of 3/4 the length of a data run, and (2) it presently attains the highest equivalent degrees of freedom (edf) of any estimator of frequency stability including Total-var and overlapping Avar. Theo1 is unbiased relative to Avar for WHFM noise. Theo1 is biased slightly low with FLFM and RWFM, and we present a formula for a hybrid statistic (TheoH) made up of a combination of Theo1 and Avar in which bias is automatically removed. We explain the sampling function used in Theo1 and show that its frequency response is nearly ideal for extracting power-Iaw noise processes of the types encountered with precision oscillators and clocks. We present results which, for a given data run, show how Theo1 anticipates the levels of frequency stability that are determined by Avar when given a longer data run from the same set of clocks.

Proceedings Title

Proc., European Frequency and Time Forum

Conference Dates

January 1, 2004

Conference Location

, USA

Conference Title

European Frequency and Time Forum

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

Allan variance, frequency stability, oscillator, Theo1, total variance

Citation

Howe, D. and Tasset, T. (2004), Theo1: Characterization of very long-term frequency stability, Proc., European Frequency and Time Forum, , USA, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=50004 (Accessed December 26, 2024)