Measurement of Mercury Mass in the Deep Space Atomic Clocks (DSAC's) rf-Discharge Lamp

Abstract

Using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), we demonstrate an ability to measure mercury mass in Hg rf-discharge lamps used in space-qualified Hg atomic clocks. In particular, for a DSAC Hg lamp provided by JPL, we measure a mass of 205 15 micro-gms. We believe the mass uncertainty is low enough to allow us to perform Hg consumption studies on these lamps, and through those studies define minimum Hg fills for the lamps to ensure specified space-mission lifetimes. Additionally, we show that photographic images of Hg droplets can provide a rough means of estimating Hg mass in rf-discharge lamps.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2019
Accession Number
AD1112550

Entities

People

  • Charles Klimcak
  • James Camparo
  • Michael Huang

Organizations

  • The Aerospace Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atomic Clocks
  • Calibration
  • Deep Space
  • Discharge Lamps
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Transmission
  • Images
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Latent Heat
  • Measurement
  • Melting
  • Metals
  • Military Research
  • Phase Transformations
  • Photographic Images
  • Space Systems
  • Standards
  • Thermodynamics
  • Transition Temperature
  • Transitions

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mathematics or Statistics

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster
  • Space - Satellites