How does 10 MHz (or other freq.) reference work for phase lock

Can somebody explain or point me to a good reference which shows how a reference signal/clock/etc. works in order to phase lock a number of different instruments together?

For example this would come up when connecting the output reference 10 MHz of a signal generator to the input reference 10 MHz of a spectrum analyzer.

Say that you connected a reference 10 MHz to two different devices, each connection using a different length cable. Would these two still be phase locked even though the difference of the cable introduce additional phase delay?

Thanks!

it is all very simple. There is a device that compares the rising edges of two different signals, and outputs an analog voltage that is proportional to the time difference between the two leading edge events. That analog voltage is used to tune the phase of a controlled oscillator either up or down.

You then use digital dividers to make the reference clock frequency equal to the oscillator to be controlled frequency at the input to that device.

when you turn it all on, the system tunes the oscilator until those two leading edges coincide.

The name of the device mentioned above is VCXO Variable (or Controlled) Crystal Oscillator.

Simple GPS Stabilised 10 MHz Oscillator