OPERATING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SIGMA TAU HYDROGEN MASERS USED IN THE VERY LONG BASELINE ARRAY (VLBA)

T.K. Tucker

Abstract:	This paper presents the results obtained from performance evaluation of a pair of Sigma Tau Standards Corporation, Model VLBA-112, active hydrogen maser frequency standards. These masers were manufactured for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), for use on the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) project, and were furnished to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for the purpose of these tests. Tests on the two masers were performed in the JPL Frequency Standards Laboratory (FSL), and included the characterization of output frequency stability versus environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, magnetic field and barometric pressure. The performance tests also included the determination of phase noise and Allan Variance using both FSL and Sigma Tau masers as references. All tests were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, with only the desired environmental and operational parameters varied to determine sensitivity to external environment.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 20th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting November 29 - 1, 1988 Sheraton Premiere Hotel Vienna, Virginia
Pages:	325 - 336
Cite this article:	Tucker, T.K., "OPERATING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SIGMA TAU HYDROGEN MASERS USED IN THE VERY LONG BASELINE ARRAY (VLBA)," Proceedings of the 20th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, Vienna, Virginia, November 1988, pp. 325-336.
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