Improvements to the Tunnel Diode Oscillator technique for high frequencies and pulsed magnetic fields with digital acquisition

We discuss improvements to the short-term performance of tunnel diode oscillator transducers with an emphasis on frequencies from 30 MHz to 1.2 GHz using LC type tank circuits. We specifically consider the TDO in pulsed high magnetic fields with fast digital acquisition. Since overdriven oscillators are necessary in pulsed fields to maintain oscillations, we examine the circuit using SPICE simulation during the design process and to gain insight into its behavior. We also discuss a numerical technique for demodulating the oscillations into frequency and amplitude.