A new highly precise angle measuring table has been developed for the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, which is to be used as a comparator to calibrate angle standards. First results of the determination of the comparator's errors of measurement obtained by two calibration methods are reported. Considering the results obtained, it is to be expected that the desired uncertainty of measurement of can be achieved.

At the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, autocollimators are calibrated with the aid of the WMT 220 angle comparator to ensure their direct traceability to the SI unit of plane angle, the radian (rad). It is shown that high-resolution electronic autocollimators can thus be calibrated with an uncertainty of 0.007 arcsec (k = 2) in reproducible measurement steps down to 0.005 arcsec. Calibrations in very small measurement steps close to the autocollimators' resolution can inform about possible short-period deviations and resulting aliasing effects in measurements with autocollimators.

The paper describes the use of a commercially available laser gyro (ring laser) for application in the field of technical angular measurements. Accuracy of measurement is judged in comparison with measurement standards of high precision used in conventional angular measuring technique (optical polygon, autocollimator). For optical angles accuracies below 0,5" and for angles in the range of seconds values of 0,2" are reached. A rapid data acquisition in connection with an evaluation adapted to the measuring strategy allows statical and dynamical angular measurements.