[time-nuts] The forbidden question

[William H. Fite]

Warning: Potentially heretical material below

Let me begin by saying I am neither an engineer nor a time expert. My PhD
is in statistics and my spouse's PhD is in theoretical computer science,
working on quantum computer algorithms. Neither of us claims any special
expertise when it comes to time and frequency measurement. I am a radio
amateur and I came to this group following a recommendation from John
Ackermann, who very kindly answered some questions for me regarding the
amateur radio frequency measurement test. I thoroughly enjoy the dialogue
here and I think that I have learned a bit about the subject though, by any
standard of this group, I am the rankest newbie.

My question is a serious one. I am not trolling, nor am I trying to begin
an argument, nor am I implying criticism of anyone or any endeavor, here or
elsewhere.

What useful purpose, if any, is served by the continuing evolution of
clocks like NIST-F2 that now achieve accuracy along the lines of one second
per many billions of years? Are there tangible benefits to be had? I
consulted an astronomer friend who advised that the current generation of
clocks would allow a suitable space vehicle to plant a probe squarely in
the middle of Alpha Centauri, if rocket technology existed to do so. We
have many friends in the academic computer science community who say that
neither conventional nor quantum computers that exist at present or in the
projectable future require anything like this kind of accuracy.

By no means am I questioning the value of new knowledge qua knowledge. For
theoreticians like the one to whom I am wedded, no justification is needed
beyond the words of mountaineer George Mallory: "Because it's there." I'm
sure that engineers and scientists in the field of time and frequency
measurement feel the same. From that perspective, there need be no
rationalization beyond the desire to do it just a little better than it has
been done.

Please don't lecture me about the value of science for its own sake. My
career has largely been built on that principle. I'd like to be informed as
to present or anticipated applications that require such accuracy. Are we
developing these incredible devices just to push boundaries? Or do they
have some practical purpose?

I'll appreciate thoughtful answers. Dismissive and/or snarky replies will
be deleted unread.

Thanks for your help.


-- 
Homo sum humani a me nihil alienum puto.