Quartz oscillators, frequency synthesizers, and timing systems for geodesy and radio science applications

Recent advances in improvements to a series of high quality frequency standards, including quartz crystal oscillators, frequency synthesizers, and hydrogen masers, are discussed. The performance of spaceflight BVA (electrodeless quartz resonator) oscillators and frequency synthesizers developed for the Topex Poseidon mission is reported. Data on the performance of atomic clocks is presented. The ongoing developments of quartz crystal oscillators and synthesizers address the needs of several U.S. and European geodesy and radio science space programs.