A Room-Temperature 20 GHz Sapphire-Loaded Cavity Oscillator Exploiting Pound–Galani Stabilization for Maximized Phase Noise Performance

A Room-Temperature 20 GHz Sapphire-Loaded Cavity Oscillator Exploiting Pound–Galani Stabilization for Maximized Phase Noise Performance

clockVolume: 73, Issue: 12, December 2025

authorLion Kensbock

A Room-Temperature 20 GHz Sapphire-Loaded Cavity Oscillator Exploiting Pound–Galani Stabilization for Maximized Phase Noise Performance

Abstract
DOI: 10.1109/TMTT.2025.3611693   IEEEXplore: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11181210    
Device
20 GHz sapphire-loaded cavity oscillator (SLCO) with Pound–Galani stabilization.
Spectrum
19.69 GHz
Novelty
A mathematical framework is developed to describe the interaction between oscillator, resonator and feedback path and clarifies the impact of coupling coefficients and modulation index on system response. The model has good agreement with simulations and experimental measurements. The oscillator operates in whispering gallery mode (WGM), WGE9,0,1 and achieves a loaded quality factor of 85100. The proposed Pound–Galani stabilization technique maintains this optimum operating point under environmental variations to support reliable performance over time and validates the oscillator's near-carrier stability.
Application
Next-generation precision microwave systems at room temperature.
Performance
−96.5 dBcHz−1 phase noise at 1 kHz offset frequency with a loaded quality factor of 85100.