Essen paved the way for the modern definition of the second, so he is significant. Essen's method of measuring the speed of light was a bold departure from optical methods. He used a microwave cavity resonator, with interior dimensions known to within a few micrometres. The resonant modes of the cavity resonator were fixed by the interior dimensions. He knew the precise frequency of his wave generator from his experience with atomic clocks. He used the fundamental wave equation, v = f x lambda to come up with a value for "c" of 299,792 kms-1