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Research under ultrahigh vacuum
Vacuum
news
Research under ultrahigh vacuum The Space Research Groups of the University of Leicester and of University College, London have been jointly responsible for the development of a soft x-ray telescope destined for satellite No 3 of the Orbiting Astronautical Observatories (NASA Research Satellites for the study of stellar phenomena), where it will measure stellar x-ray emissions in the wavelength ranges 3 to 9, 8 to 18, 18 to 60 Angstroms, using three separate reflectors. Because of technical difficulties associated with the production of stable, low noise proportional counters, channel multipliers were chosen as detectors. Suitable detectors were developed in close co-operation with Mullard Research Laboratories at Salford, Surrey and these have been tested over operating periods in excess of 1500 hours at pressures in the 1O-Btorr range. Simulation of the satellite environment was achieved using a Mullard UHV 15 litre/sec system of the type VC403. The CEGB Research and Development Group of Cockfosters, Barnet are studying the deterioration of insulators exposed to atmosphere in heavily polluted areas. As part of this research, the adhesion of dust or dirt to insulating surfaces is being studied under ultrahigh vacuum. A gas dosing system is employed to produce standard atmosphere and to allow precise control of gas composition. The effect of gas composition on particle adhesion is being investigated using an omegatron mass spectrometer for residual gas analysis. The vacuum system employs a Mullard UHV 100 litrelsec ion pump type VC 401. The force between a particle and an insulator has been studied by directly measuring he force on a sphere of known radius, suspended by a fine wire from a microbalance, as an insulator surface is brought towards it. Forces of the order of 1O-Bto 10e3 g weight were measured. Ultrahigh vacua of around 1O-1o torr were essential to eliminate wind or air resistance, gas, moisture and particle contamination and vibration.
Mullard’s vacuum equipment for channel multiplier testing; three channel multipliers are shown in the foreground
Commercial
news
Blairs extension of product range Blairs Limited of Glasgow have announced a substantial extension to their range of engineering products and services for the petroleum, chemical, gas, distillery, food and agricultural industries. In addition to its present business in the design and manufacture of evaporation, distillation, heat exchange and fabricated plant in ferrous, nonferrous and clad materials, there will also be transferred to it the design, manufacture and sales of the full range of “Mirrlees” vacuum equipment, pumps, turbines, evaporators and condensing plant, forming part of the present business of the Mirrlees Watson Company Limited. The latter Company will be concentrating entirely on the manufacture of machinery for the sugar industry. A complete reorganisation and development of its marketing, design and production facilities is being undertaken and is already well advanced. An initial step is to be the concentration of all operating departments of Blairs Limited and of the Mirrlees Watson Co Ltd, concerned with the augmented product range, at the present address of Blairs Limited, Woodville Street, Glasgow SWl. The London office of Blairs limited at 38 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1 will, in future handle not only the present range of Blairs Limited manufactures but also those products and activities mentioned above originally forming part of the Mirrlees Watson Company’s business.
Adhesion
la6
testing
at CEGB
Acquisil ion Burnett and Lewis Ltd (Redhouse Industrial Estate, Aldridge, Staffordshire) manufacturers of air and gas drying equipment and petrochemical purification plant announce that they have acquired from Silica Gel Ltd, of Hounslow, their interests in dynamicadsorption equipment. The combined operation will be centred at Aldridge. This will give Burnett and Lewis Ltd an equivalent of 60 years experience of adsorption technology, including some of the largest plants ever built. Silica Gel Ltd will continue to sell silica gel, molecular sieves, syloids, desiccators and breathers from their Park Royal, London, premises.
news
Research under ultrahigh vacuum The Space Research Groups of the University of Leicester and of University College, London have been jointly responsible for the development of a soft x-ray telescope destined for satellite No 3 of the Orbiting Astronautical Observatories (NASA Research Satellites for the study of stellar phenomena), where it will measure stellar x-ray emissions in the wavelength ranges 3 to 9, 8 to 18, 18 to 60 Angstroms, using three separate reflectors. Because of technical difficulties associated with the production of stable, low noise proportional counters, channel multipliers were chosen as detectors. Suitable detectors were developed in close co-operation with Mullard Research Laboratories at Salford, Surrey and these have been tested over operating periods in excess of 1500 hours at pressures in the 1O-Btorr range. Simulation of the satellite environment was achieved using a Mullard UHV 15 litre/sec system of the type VC403. The CEGB Research and Development Group of Cockfosters, Barnet are studying the deterioration of insulators exposed to atmosphere in heavily polluted areas. As part of this research, the adhesion of dust or dirt to insulating surfaces is being studied under ultrahigh vacuum. A gas dosing system is employed to produce standard atmosphere and to allow precise control of gas composition. The effect of gas composition on particle adhesion is being investigated using an omegatron mass spectrometer for residual gas analysis. The vacuum system employs a Mullard UHV 100 litrelsec ion pump type VC 401. The force between a particle and an insulator has been studied by directly measuring he force on a sphere of known radius, suspended by a fine wire from a microbalance, as an insulator surface is brought towards it. Forces of the order of 1O-Bto 10e3 g weight were measured. Ultrahigh vacua of around 1O-1o torr were essential to eliminate wind or air resistance, gas, moisture and particle contamination and vibration.
Mullard’s vacuum equipment for channel multiplier testing; three channel multipliers are shown in the foreground
Commercial
news
Blairs extension of product range Blairs Limited of Glasgow have announced a substantial extension to their range of engineering products and services for the petroleum, chemical, gas, distillery, food and agricultural industries. In addition to its present business in the design and manufacture of evaporation, distillation, heat exchange and fabricated plant in ferrous, nonferrous and clad materials, there will also be transferred to it the design, manufacture and sales of the full range of “Mirrlees” vacuum equipment, pumps, turbines, evaporators and condensing plant, forming part of the present business of the Mirrlees Watson Company Limited. The latter Company will be concentrating entirely on the manufacture of machinery for the sugar industry. A complete reorganisation and development of its marketing, design and production facilities is being undertaken and is already well advanced. An initial step is to be the concentration of all operating departments of Blairs Limited and of the Mirrlees Watson Co Ltd, concerned with the augmented product range, at the present address of Blairs Limited, Woodville Street, Glasgow SWl. The London office of Blairs limited at 38 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1 will, in future handle not only the present range of Blairs Limited manufactures but also those products and activities mentioned above originally forming part of the Mirrlees Watson Company’s business.
Adhesion
la6
testing
at CEGB
Acquisil ion Burnett and Lewis Ltd (Redhouse Industrial Estate, Aldridge, Staffordshire) manufacturers of air and gas drying equipment and petrochemical purification plant announce that they have acquired from Silica Gel Ltd, of Hounslow, their interests in dynamicadsorption equipment. The combined operation will be centred at Aldridge. This will give Burnett and Lewis Ltd an equivalent of 60 years experience of adsorption technology, including some of the largest plants ever built. Silica Gel Ltd will continue to sell silica gel, molecular sieves, syloids, desiccators and breathers from their Park Royal, London, premises.