Lifetime and Reliability of Rubidium Discharge Lamps for Use in Atomic Frequency Standards.

Abstract

The results of various studies concerning the lifetime and reliability of the rubidium discharge lamp used in the rubidium atomic frequency standards are reported. The primary life-limiting process in these lamps involves diffusion of the rubidium atoms into the glass envelope of the lamp, making them unavailable to the discharge. The rate at which rubidium atoms diffuse into the glass is dependent on lamp conditions, including lamp size, type of glass, lamp temperature, and rf drive power. The calorimetric technique to measure the elemental rubidium content in a lamp and its use for quality control in the lamp manufacturing process are discussed. Keywords include: Alkali discharge lamps, Atomic frequency standard, Rubidium atomic clocks, Rubidium lamps.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 14, 1984
Accession Number
ADA150787

Entities

People

  • C. H. Volk
  • Robert P. Frueholz
  • T. C. English
  • T. J. Lynch
  • W. J. Riley

Organizations

  • The Aerospace Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Chemical Analysis
  • Chemical Kinetics
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemistry
  • Discharge Lamps
  • Frequency Standards
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Materials
  • Materials Science
  • Measurement
  • Phase Transformations
  • Physics Laboratories
  • Quality Control
  • Rate Of Consumption
  • Reliability
  • Spectroscopy

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.
  • Thin Film Deposition Science.