ACCORDING to quantum mechanics, an oscillator possesses a definite zero-point energy of vibration, and an attempt has been made to express this result directly in terms of some general principle. It ...

What does local oscillator actually mean? Find out inside PCMag's comprehensive tech and computer-related encyclopedia.

An oscillator that uses a quartz crystal to generate a frequency. Such devices generally output a fixed frequency, but some can be controlled by a tuning voltage over a small range. Contrast with VCO.