Crystal surface changes are a key factor contributing to aging in SC-cut crystals used in Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillators (OCXOs). These changes primarily arise from chemical, mechanical, or environmental interactions affecting the quartz crystal over time.

SC-cut crystals achieve significantly better aging performance than AT-cut crystals due to their stress-compensated design, reduced sensitivity to mounting stresses, improved thermal characteristics, and higher Q factor. These advantages result in aging rates as low as 0.1 ppm per year, making SC-cu... read more

An Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator (OCXO) is a type of crystal oscillator that provides exceptional frequency stability by housing the crystal in an oven maintained at a constant, higher temperature. This design minimizes the effects of ambient temperature fluctuations, ensuring highly stable ope... read more