[time-nuts] Question for the cesium nuts.

[Magnus Danielson]

From: Dr Bruce Griffiths <bruce.griffiths at xtra.co.nz>
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Question for the cesium nuts.
Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 22:06:40 +1300
Message-ID: <45FBAFA0.3030306 at xtra.co.nz>

Hal,

To put a few more words on each of them.

> Active  masers oscillate.

Active masers will actually generate an RF signal on its own. This signal is
then used to lock up a 5 or 10 MHz OCXO typically.

> Passive masers don't.

Passive masers acts like a very narrow filter which you need to interrigate
by applying your generated RF signal and then figure out where to control your
5 or 10 MHz OCXO which is used to generate the RF signal. Not very different
from the use of a crystal in the feedback loop of a XO.

Cheers,
Magnus