Design, construction and testing of a small passive hydrogen maser
Abstract
The development model of a passive hydrogen maser intended for use by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in the Global Positioning System satellite system has been designed, built and tested. The aim was to build a maser physics unit of light weight, small size and low power consumption that embodied in its design the mechanical ruggedness needed for space-qualified hardware. In addition, the development model was designed to be readily demountable so that repairs or changes could be made quickly and easily. The physics unit connects to a vacuum system and hydrogen beam source supplied by NRL. In the course of this work a new method of RF cavity coupling derived from slotline and microstrip techniques is developed.
- Publication:
-
33rd Annual Frequency Control Symposium
- Pub Date:
- 1979
- Bibcode:
- 1979frco.symp..549M
- Keywords:
-
- Design Analysis;
- Hydrogen;
- Masers;
- Performance Tests;
- Global Positioning System;
- Hardware;
- Maser Outputs;
- Microstrip Devices;
- Satellite-Borne Instruments;
- Space Maintenance;
- Structural Design;
- Lasers and Masers