[time-nuts] Cold Rubidium?

[jimlux]

On 11/7/19 6:15 PM, Hal Murray wrote:
> 
> p.boven at xs4all.nl said:
>> We were seriously considering the Muquans clock for a radio astronomy
>> project. However, the company explained that the device has to be  returned
>> every 3 to 5 years for re-filling. Given the very remote  location we were
>> going to put these in, that was out of the question for us.
> 
> What's the MTBF of that sort of gear?  How often can you repair it on site?
> 
> Did you ask about a larger container for whatever needs re-filling?
> 
> How big is the unit?  Is whatever needs re-filling removable so you don't have
> to ship the whole thing?  (I'm assuming that you have to swap out technicians
> occasionally so there is occasional transportation to the remote sites.)
> 
> 

Well, remote could be "really remote" - for the last few months, I've 
been working on a design for a low frequency radio telescope on the far 
side of the moon - periodic service is essentially impossible. So far, 
though, it doesn't appear we need that good of a clock.

Radio astronomers do like to put their instruments in remote places, 
where noise is less.