How to Adjust the Sigma Tau Maser Rate

• Plot the GPS offset versus time for the past few weeks.
  • Using, for example, "llogsum" or "rfclock" (ref: ~fghigo/bin/ )
  • "GPS offset" is Site1Hz vs GPS (or TAC) from the GBT Timing center.
  • The sense of Site1Hz vs GPS is positive if the Site1Hz rising edge precedes that from the GPS.
• Fit a line to the GPS vs time data, get slope in ns/day.
• Convert to seconds/second, R = dT/T = slope(ns/day) / (24*3600*1e9)
• Divide by 4.659e-17 to get maser synthesizer counts: R* = R/4.659e-17
  • or in one step: counts = 248 * slope in ns/day
• Open the front panel of the Sigma Tau Maser and note the present setting of the synthesizer.
• Subtract R* and set this new value in the switches.
• If R* is positive, decrease the value, otherwise increase, to cancel the trend.
• Write up the change in the log file : ~fghigo/public_html/timer/STmaser.log

For example,

• Lets say the Site1Hz vs GPS rate is 3 nanosec/day over the last 2 months.