[time-nuts] Newbie with new questions: Rubidium

[Robert Lutwak]

The lamp runs quite hot (typically over 100C).  Failure is generally the 
heater, which is typically a transistor or FET bolted to the lamp body. 
Occasionally, the RF transistor which drive the lamp discharge (something in 
the range of 60-150 MHz) will fail.  Again, it's the electronic components 
failing, not the physics.

In a very old Rb, you may see some reduction in signal level due to 
darkening of the lamp glass.  This may lead to diminished stability 
performance and contribute to long-term frequency drift, but is unlikely to 
cause lock failure.

-RL

------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Lutwak, Senior Scientist
Symmetricom - Technology Realization Center
34 Tozer Rd.
Beverly, MA 01915
(978) 232-1461   Voice           RLutwak at Symmetricom.com   (Business)
(978) 927-4099   FAX             Lutwak at Alum.MIT.edu  (Personal)
(339) 927-7896   Mobile
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Magnus Danielson" <cfmd at bredband.net>
To: <time-nuts at febo.com>; <jim_johnson at agilent.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 06, 2005 7:40 AM
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Newbie with new questions: Rubidium


> From: <jim_johnson at agilent.com>
> Subject: RE: [time-nuts] Newbie with new questions: Rubidium
> Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 16:45:17 -0700
> Message-ID: 
> <65213341217E8D458E7C78E6640C749503BB3177 at waglmb01.labs.agilent.com>
>
>> Our experience has been that the most common
>> failure in Rb standards is the Rb lamp.  There
>> is a known wearout mechanism in the lamp and
>> a somewhat predictable lifespan.  The filter
>> and absorption cells have no wearout mechanism.
>
> Some Rubidiums have a "hot-swap" of the Rubidium lamp, such as my R&S 
> Rubidium.
> Unfortunatly I don't have the replacement part.
>
> With hot-swap means that all electronics, heating etc is all running as
> normally, but during the operation there is a natural loss of tracking.
>
> Cheers,
> Magnus
>
>> Have a nice weekend,
>> Jim
>> Agilent Laboratories
>> Palo Alto, CA
>>
>>
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com]On
>> >Behalf Of Rex
>> >Sent: Friday, August 05, 2005 1:40 PM
>> >To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
>> >Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Newbie with new questions: Rubidium
>> >
>> >
>> >On Fri, 05 Aug 2005 20:26:36 +0000, rlutwak at comcast.net wrote:
>> >
>> >>Usually, Rb clock failures are electronic.  Failed components are
>> >>generally the same you'd expect on any electronics.  Check first
>> >>the power supply capacitors.
>> >
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> time-nuts mailing list
>> time-nuts at febo.com
>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>
> _______________________________________________
> time-nuts mailing list
> time-nuts at febo.com
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>