[time-nuts] Rubidium oscillators and heatsinks

[Claude Houde]

Hello Time Nuts.

Where I work we had a small run of 15 phase analyzers made in the early 
'90 with Efraton FRK just bolted on the 3/16" thick aluminum plate that 
was also the left side of the chassis.  The plate was around 12" by 12" 
with a 1 inch hole for Rb lamp access and we applied  a thin coating of 
silicone heat sink grease between the FRK and the plate. The whole 
instrument was then installed in a closed 19 inch rack.  All but one of 
the FRK's lasted the lifetime of the analyzer, around 15 years powered 
24/7.  There were no fans or other fancy cooling means.  But I don't 
imply that more modern Rb's will be so tolerant.

Claude