Frequency stabilization of the Texas A and M cyclotron by injection locking

A technique for frequency stabilizing the R. F. oscillator of a cyclotron without the expense, complexity or power requirements of a fully driven system is described.The system employs a low power (approximately one kilowatt) amplifier driven by a reference frequency signal. The output of the amplifier is coupled to the grid of the power oscillator. This injected signal in conjunction with the servo driven trimming capacitor reduces the average time jitter of the oscillator to less than 100 picoseconds.No significant modification to the power oscillator circuit or in its operation is required. The total components cost for the system is less than three thousand dollars.