title: Nanosecond delay with subpicosecond uncertainty.
abstract: We have combined a commercially available, variable-length coaxial delay line (trombone line) with a high-resolution linear translation system. The result is better resolution and lower uncertainty in the achievable delays than previously available. The range of delay is 0 ps to approximately 1250 ps, the bidirectional resolution is 2.0 ps, the unidirectional resolution is 0.2 ps, and the uncertainty (95% confidence interval) in the measured delay is +/-0.09 ps. Drift, temperature dependence, repeatability, linearity, and hysteresis were also examined.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8102, USA.
authors.forename: Donald R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Nicholas G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Paulter
mesh_terms: D004559:Electric Wiring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004581:Electronics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors