Abstract

A brief history of earlier standards of length and of the standards now in use is given. The plan to substitute a wavelength of light for the present international platinum-iridium prototype meter as a standard of length is now under consideration by the appropriate international committees. The advantages of the proposed plan, the different isotope sources of monochromatic radiation that have been suggested by different countries, and the present status of the proposed change are presented.

© 1955 Optical Society of America

A Light Wave of Artificial Mercury as the Ultimate Standard of Length

William F. Meggers
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 38(1) 7-14 (1948)

A Light Source for the Primary Standard of Wave-Length*

Chao-Wang Hsueh
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 36(3) 160-164 (1946)

Standard Wave-Lengths*

W. F. Meggers
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 5(4) 308-322 (1921)

On the Measurement of Standard Wave Lengths

Keivin Burns
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 7(6) 419-437 (1923)

Wavelength Standard of Length

J. Opt. Soc. Am. 48(5) 361_2-361 (1958)