Differential Comparison of the One-Way Speed of Light in the East-West and West-East Directions on the Rotating Earth

A status report is presented for a time transfer experiment which compares the times of flight in the east-west and west-east directions of short pulses of light sent from a laser coupled to the 48-inch telescope at the NASA Goddard Optical Research Facility to the U.S. Naval Observatory and reflect...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alley, C O, Nelson, R A, Shih, Y H, Agnew, B W, Bartolo, R E, Broomfield, J T, Fogleman, J A, Hunt, J C, Li, M G, Perry, M A, Rayner, J D, Steggerda, C A, Wang, B C, Chandler, M J, Rueger, L J, Wilcox, J L
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
COMPARISON
EARTH(PLANET)
Geodesy
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
HEAT
HYDROGEN
LASERS
MASERS
MOUNTS
OPTICS
PNEUMATIC EQUIPMENT
REFLECTION
RESEARCH FACILITIES
ROTATION
SHOCK
SHORT PULSES
SUPPRESSION
TIME
TRANSFER
TRUCKS
VELOCITY
VIBRATION
Online Access:Request full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A status report is presented for a time transfer experiment which compares the times of flight in the east-west and west-east directions of short pulses of light sent from a laser coupled to the 48-inch telescope at the NASA Goddard Optical Research Facility to the U.S. Naval Observatory and reflected back over the same path. The times t(1) and t(3) when each light pulse leaves GORF and returns are measured with an event timer referenced to a hydrogen maser. The timee t(2) when the pulse is reflected at USNO is measured with a portable event timer and maser combination carried in a heated and air-conditioned truck. Each maser is maintained in a temperature-controlled environment. The portable maser enclosure is supported by pneumatic shock and vibration suppression mounts. See also ADA217145. Presented at the Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Applications and Planning Meeting (20th) held in Vienna, VA on 29 November-1 December 1988. Published in the Proceedings of the Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Applications and Planning Meeting (20th), p261-286, 1988.