Precision time: A matter of atoms, clocks, and statistics
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - 20:30
in Physics & Chemistry
The ability to accurately measure a second in time is at the heart of many essential technologies; the most recognizable may be the Global Positioning System (GPS). A new paper addresses how achieving a stable and coordinated global measure of time requires more than just the world's most accurate timepieces; it also requires approximately 400 atomic clocks working as an ensemble.