[time-nuts] Homebrew primary standard?

[Don Collie]

It is possible to build a standard, of very good long term stability, by 
amplifying the radiation produced by a simple incandesent light bulb. The 
frequency produced is well within the capabilities of present 
technology......................................Don C.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Van Baak" <tvb at LeapSecond.com>
To: "Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement" 
<time-nuts at febo.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2007 5:59 AM
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Homebrew primary standard?


> ); SAEximRunCond expanded to false
> Errors-To: 
> time-nuts-bounces+donmer=woosh.co.nz+donmer=woosh.co.nz at febo.com
>
>> Has there been any attempts (or successes) at someone outside of a
>> national laboratory, and commercial R&D groups to build a primary
>> frequency/time standard?
>
> Two attempts to build hydrogen masers that I know of; little
> or no progress.
>
>> I am not sure if there is anything that would prevent an individual
>> from building a cesium standard of the quality seen in early models
>> from NPL and NIST, or an industrial style (compact Ramsey cavity)
>> standard.
>>
>> -Michael
>
> Yes, it would be possible. I know that several of us have
> considered it, for a few minutes at least.
>
> It would require some expertise in physics, electronics,
> glass and metal fabrication, vacuum systems, magnet
> design, electron multipliers, and who knows that else.
> You'd go through many prototypes. To see if it's working
> you might want another one in-house.
>
> You'd learn a great deal. It would be an amazing story.
> In the end, you'd end up with a standard accurate to one
> part in ten to the 10th or 11th that would work for hours
> or even days at a time.
>
> The reason no one has tried it, I believe, is that you can
> get the same or better accuracy with a simple $75 GPS
> receiver today. It would seem motivation for the project
> would be the biggest problem.
>
> /tvb
>
>
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