Torsion oscillator stabilization including maintaining the amplitude of the oscillator without changing its drive frequency

摘要

A torsion oscillator (FIG. 1) is stabilized in operation by determining the current resonant frequency (62); in a first procedure, observing the oscillator for change in resonant frequency (64), and then restoring the amplitude and median offset (66) without changing the drive frequency. In an alternative procedure, after determining the resonant frequency (62); setting the drive frequency close to but offset from the current resonant frequency (74), observing the oscillator for change in resonant frequency (76), and the restoring the close offset to the changed resonant frequency (78). By operating slightly off peak, the direction of resonant change is immediately known. The first procedure has less difficulties in implementation, but requires more power.