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SPECTRAL LINES AS FREQUENCY STANDARDS
Author(s) -
Lyons Harold
Publication year - 1952
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1952.tb26600.x
Subject(s) - annals , citation , library science , national library , computer science , information retrieval , history , classics
As part of its program for the development of precision in primary standards in the microwave region of the spectrum, the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) has been engaged in a broad program investigating the possibilities of atomic frequency and time standards.*v2 By atomic is meant any atomic system in the general sense. The ultimate goal of the program, considered most optimistically, would be the introduction of atomic standards for frequency and time in the physical sciences if this is feasible. This can also be considered as part of a broader program for the introduction of atomic standards for all of the units of physical ~cience.~ Although the problems involved in the design of accurate and reliable frequency and time standards are somewhat different, these two topics will be dealt with together since a clock can be used as a frequency standard while a frequency standard by itself will not read time. A survey of the status of some of the NBS projects relating to the frequency and time program will be given.