FEMTO-ST-Franche Comté Electronique Mécanique Thermique et Optique - Sciences et Technologies
From basic research to industrial partnership
LNE-FEMTO-ST
LNE - FEMTO-ST joint laboratory
Main goals
FEMTO-ST is associated to the LNE (Laboratoire National de métrologie et d'Essai) and accredited by the COFRAC (COmité FRançais d'ACcréditation) to perform calibration of systems and devices, providing a frequency signal from 1 MHz to 18 GHz. These calibrations allow characterization of delivered signals.
- In time domain by measuring frequency instability versus time integration (tau) and defining Allan variance (sigmay2 (tau)) for 10-3s<tau<103s,
- In spectral domain by measuring spectral density of phase noise or frequency noise for Fourier frequencies from 10-3Hz to 105Hz.
Calibration activity
This activity concerns characterization of Ultra Stable Oscillators, frequency synthesizers, Cesium or Rubidium clocks as secondary standards for customers.
Calibrations are performed as well in spectral and time domain.
See calibration capabilities of LNE-FEMTO-ST and Observatoire de Besançon presented at the EFTF in Besançon, march 2005.
Calibration Metrology Capabilities (CMC) are approved by BIPM in the Electricity-Magnetism field (Approved on 22 September 2006) and Time and Frequency field (Approved on 19 January 2009). Consult CMCs related to Technical Unit N°2.13.
Research activity
- Development of an optoelectronics phase noise measurement device. Thanks LNE for supporting this project under contract LNE/DRST107002 (2010-2011). See related papers in the list of publications.
- Development of absolute method, for measuring phase noise, based on radian (International System) with zero and ratio measures. Thanks to LNE for supporting this project under contract LNE/DRST087002 (February 2008 - July 2009) and LNE/DRST097002 (March 2009 - June 2010). See first results published at the 14th International Metrology Congress (Paris, June 2009).
- Measure of better noise floor and limits of confident in determination of the Allan variance when two oscillators are locked one to the other. Collaboration with the Time and Frequency department of the Czech Academy of Science. Thanks to LNE for supporting this project in 2007 and 2008. See list of publications & communications on this project.
- Realization of an isolation distribution amplifier (paper presented at the EFTF in Besançon in march 2005) and a frequency difference multiplier (paper presented in the EFTF-IFCS Joint meeting in Geneva, Switzerland in june 2007). Thanks to LNE for supporting this project in 2006.
International projects
- Calibration Metrology Capabilities (CMC) : according to EURAMET, our joint laboratory participate to CMC in the Time and Frequency domain for short term frequency stability measurements and in Electricity and magnetism for spectral density of phase noise. CMC are then centralized by BIPM (Bureau International des Poids et Mesures). CMCs were approved and published in september 2006 (phase noise) and january 2009 (short term frequency stability).
- International comparison in phase noise domain : thanks to LNE, an international comparison in phase noise domain began in October 2005. Preliminary results where published at the EFTF (European Frequency and Time Forum) in march 2006, and final results at the International congress of Metrology in Lille, june 2007. Collaboration was then settled between our Joint Laboratory and the ime and Frequency department of the Czech Academy of Science, as well as Oscilloquartz S.A., supported by LNE in 2007 and 2008.
See list of publications.
A little bit of the history of this structure
Calibration activity began in our laboratory in 1973. It was held in LPMO (Laboratoire de Physique et de Métrologie des Oscillateurs). The Calibration centre was at first BNM (Bureau National de Métrologie), FRETAC, then COFRAC (COmité FRançais d'ACcréditation) in 1995.
Since may 2001, BNM and CNRS signed together a contract to formalize this association, FEMTO-ST and its LPMO department was then an associated laboratory to BNM at the highest level of the national calibration activity in corresponding Time and Frequency domains. In march 2002, technical proposal with precise description of each method used for each calibration and all associated uncertainties was completely accepted by COFRAC. Then in July 2002, it was considered conformed to the ISO/EN 17025 norm. 1st of October, 2002, LPMO became the first laboratory of CNRS to be conformed to this ISO/EN 17025 norm, for calibration activities. It was an important news for our laboratory because this conformity to ISO/EN 17025 is not only for quality but also for scientific aspects. Concretely, the technical staff of the Joint Laboratory must every day care of its work and follows strict procedures. But this is a main condition to maintain calibration capabilities at the highest level.
LPMO joined FEMTO-ST the 1st of January 2004. BNM was transferred to LNE (Laboratoire National d’Essais) the 1T OF January 2005. Our Joint laboratory became then LNE-FEMTO-ST. Calibration capabilities were then extended and accepted by COFRAC in march 2005. Contracts supported by BNM then by LNE allow to have news systems for calibration. The Joint Laboratory recently got a new calibration system for short term frequency stability measurements, a 40GHz synthesizer, a 20GHz network analyser, etc.).
Joint Laboratory has rooms in former LPMO (for measurements in spectral and time domains) and at ENSMM in the former LCEP (Laboratoire de Chronométrie Electronique et Piezoélectricité). The technical staff of the Joint Laboratory is also involved in research in Time and Frequency Department of FEMTO-ST, created the 1st of January 2008 by fusion of Time and Frequency activities of former LPMO and LCEP. Thus Observatoire de Besançon and LNE-FEMTO-ST work together. See calibration capabilities presented at the EFTF in Besançon, march 2005.
In 2008, LNE-FEMTO-ST became closer to the time and frequency calibration laboratory of the Observatoire de Besançon. Both laboratory held together a stand at the (Toulouse Space Show'08) in April 2008.
Since 1st of March 2008, the two accredited laboratories of the Observatoire de Besançon (N° 2.06) and FEMTO-ST (N°2.13) joined together a new structure called Laboratoire Temps Fréquence de Besançon (LTFB) i.e. Time and Frequency Laboratory of Besançon. LTFB is still an associated laboratory to LNE and contains as previously the two accredited laboratories, and also some activities of research related to calibrations. François Meyer (Head Manager of 2.06) is the Head Director, Patrice Salzenstein (Head Manager of 2.13) is the Deputy Director, and Sophie Ubaldi is the Quality Director. Fabienne Grand deals with secretary and administrative work. 12 permanent employees work at LTFB. The new laboratory LNE-LTFB is associated to french LNE.
Contact
Technical accredited unit 2.06:
Head manager: François Meyer (Director of the LNE-LTFB)
Technical accredited unit 2.13:
Head manager: Patrice Salzenstein (Deputy Director of the LNE-LTFB)
Assistant managers: Nathalie Franquet & Gilles Martin
Quality director of the LNE-LTFB: Sophie Ubaldi
LNE-LTFB, technical accredited unit 2.13
32 avenue de l'Observatoire, F25044 Besançon Cedex, France
Phone: 33(0)3 81 40 28 33 or 33(0)3 81 40 28 49, Fax: 33(0)3 81 88 57 14 (to Ms Nathalie Franquet or Mr. Patrice Salzenstein), cofrac@femto-st.fr
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