[time-nuts] quartz / liquid nitrogen

[Tom Van Baak]

Has anyone tried running a quartz oscillator at liquid nitrogen temperatures: -196 C (-321F, 77K)? It's probably impractical commercially, but maybe something of value to a time nut. Would that dramatically lower temperature improve phase noise & short-term performance? Is there a crystal cut that could be optimized for 77 K instead of ~25 C (room) or 60 C (oven)?

If not Nitrogen, how about dry ice (-109F -78C)?

/tvb