Introduction to time and frequency metrology
Abstract
In this article, I will review the definition of time and time interval, and I will describe some of the devices that are used to realize these definitions. I will then introduce the principles of time and frequency metrology, including a discussion of some of the types of measurement hardware in common use and the statistical machinery that is used to analyze these data. I will also introduce various techniques of distributing time and frequency information, with special emphasis on the global positioning system satellites. I will then discuss the advantages of clock ensembles and a prototype time-scale algorithm. I will conclude with a discussion of how clocks are synchronized to remote servers using noisy and poorly characterized transmission channels.
- Publication:
-
Review of Scientific Instruments
- Pub Date:
- June 1999
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.1149844
- Bibcode:
- 1999RScI...70.2567L
- Keywords:
-
- 06.30.Ft;
- 06.20.Fn;
- 05.45.Xt;
- 84.40.Ua;
- Time and frequency;
- Synchronization;
- coupled oscillators;
- Telecommunications: signal transmission and processing;
- communication satellites