Phys 360/460 Experiment: Radio-frequency electronics and frequency stabilization

The basic goal of this experiment is to illustrate the usage of various modular radio frequency components (splitters, mixers etc...) by stabilizing the frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator using a cavity resonance.

Experiment instructions (pdf)

Web enhanced apparatus diagrams:

1. Component 1, Part A: The voltage controlled oscillator
2. Component 1, Part B: Cavity coupling and quality factor
3. Component 1, Part C: Cavity reflection coefficient phase
4. Component 1, Part D: Stabilization of the VCO to the cavity ...
5. Component 2, Part A: Frequency modulating the VCO ...
6. Component 2, Part B: Pound-Drever-Hall error signal generation scheme ...
7. Component 2, Part C: Implementing the Pound-Drever-Hall locking scheme ...

Helpful photographs:

1. +15 V for VCO ...
2. +5 V power supply connections ...
3. +12 V power supply connections ...
4. Saving scope traces ...
5. +/- 15V for lock box ...
6. Thermocouple connections ...
7. Thermocouple voltmeter connections ...
8. +12 V heater connections ...