Environmental sensitivity of the superconducting cavity maser oscillator

The superconducting cavity maser oscillator (SCMO) is tested for environmental sensitivity in the controlled environment of a frequency standards test facility (FSTF). Measured sensitivities to temperature, magnetic field, pressure and humidity are used to predict SCMO performance in various laboratory environments. A comparison to SCMO frequency stability tests in these same environments shows good results, and indicates a need to reduce sensitivities to temperature and magnetic field. Characterization provides continual evaluation of SCMO for the next generation of frequency standards for NASA´s deep space network