[time-nuts] beryllium oxide

[Rick Karlquist]

Robert Atkinson wrote:
> non-electronic application is in some (eg argon-ion) lasers.
> on a side note some vacuum tubes (especially cold cathode types) contain
> various radioactive materials.
>
> Robert G8RPI.

Of interest to time nuts is that rubidium standards contain
two isotopes of Rb, one of which is slightly radioactive.
Also, if you have an Rb in your basement and it starts acting
squirrely, it might be because you have helium in the air,
since helium gets into "hermetic" stuff.  If you do have helium,
it is because you have radon, which radiates helium ions,
also known as alpha particles.

Rick N6RK