[time-nuts] The forbidden question

Bob kb8tq kb8tq at n1k.org
Tue Jun 4 19:26:19 UTC 2019


Hi

One very basic thing that precision clocks allow you to dig deeper into is
gravity. A gravity wave passing between two clocks should show up as a time 
ripple. 

Bob

> On Jun 4, 2019, at 12:43 PM, William H. Fite <omniryx at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 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.
> _______________________________________________
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at lists.febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to http://lists.febo.com/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts_lists.febo.com
> and follow the instructions there.





More information about the Time-nuts_lists.febo.com mailing list