Atomic Clocks and Timing

Atomic clocks are extremely expensive pieces of equipment generally found in national laboratories. The first atomic clocks were built in the US in 1949 at the National Bureau of Standards. However, the first accurate units were built at the UK's National Physics Laboratory in 1955. National standards agencies maintain accurate time to an extremely high degree.

In the real world, atomic clocks are not used to synchronise time on computers and computer networks. A radio transmission is used to sync time on PC and networks that is derived from a atomic clocks. Typically, the DCF, MSF GPS or WWVB signals are utilised to provide accurate timing references to fractions of a second.

Fig: Atomic Clocks utilised for computer timing.

The use of a radio time source is a cost-effective means of synchronising computer or computer network time to an accurate timing reference. In this manner sub-millisecond timing of networks can be achieved at a cost-effective price.

• Atomic Clock Information
• Atomic Clock
• Atomic Clocks
• Atomic Clock Sync
• Atomic Clock Time