Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Dachel, P. R..
The presently used JPL hydrogen maser suspended atomic storage bulb and a rigid, single-plane mounted bulb are compared. The new bulb incorporates three major design changes: (1) mounting design; (2) alterations to the collimator; and (3) decrease in mass. These design changes are expected to increase the long-term stability of the frequency standard by reducing its sensitivity to vibration and thermal effects.
An FTS maintenance and calibration task was conducted at DSS 42/43 during August 1978. The objectives of this effort were (1) the routine maintenance and calibration of hydrogen masers, (2) installation and calibration of cesium standards, (3) installation of test equipment for frequency measurement, (4) CRG testing, (5) cabling inspection and repair, (6) check thermal and magnetic environment of H-maser/cesium room, and (7) calibration of frequency and timing subsystem.
A field operable maser has been developed for use in the Deep Space Network. Maser design was based on two experimental hydrogen maser frequency standards in operation since 1970 at DSN stations. Many design changes have been incorporated into the maser design, both in physics and electronics systems. Short and long term frequency, RF isolation of maser output lines and the lifetime of active physics components have been improved. Automatic fault detection and location, and performance and reliability of the receiver-synthesizer system have also been altered.
Improved maser and superconducting magnet, which operates in vacuum of closed-cycle helium refrigerator, comprise a low-noise, reliable, field-operational receiver input system.