China's Cesium Atomic Fountain Clock Recognized for International Standard Time Calibration
TapTechNews May 31, 1972, Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) was stipulated as the international standard time, which utilizes the uniformity of atomic time and adopts the second length of atomic time; in terms of moment, it remains consistent with Universal Time to a certain extent in the form of leap seconds.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences officially announced that the Bulletin of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) has published the frequency data of the cesium atomic fountain clock (number NTSC-CsF2) for 18 consecutive months, indicating that the cesium atomic fountain clock independently developed by the National Time Service Center (referred to as the National Time Service Center) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has been recognized to participate in calibrating the international standard time (UTC) and begin to control the International Atomic Time (TAI).
According to the official introduction, the national time service system mainly includes two major parts: the time reference system and the time dissemination system. Among them, the time reference system, also known as the timekeeping system, is the generating system of Beijing time. The time dissemination system, also known as the time service system, is to send out the standard time signal and information through certain technical means for users to receive and use. After more than 50 years of development, China has established the most technically complete national time service system in the world.
TapTechNews note: The atomic time provided by the atomic clock can be used for precise measurement of time intervals, but it has no definite meaning of the moment; while the Universal Time based on the measurement of the Earth's rotation is the opposite, and its second-length interval is unstable, but it reflects the change in the azimuth of the Earth's axis when the Earth rotates in space and is closely related to people's daily lives.
Regarding how to determine the second length of atomic time? The International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) uses nearly 600 timekeeping atomic clocks in 87 timekeeping laboratories in different countries and regions around the world that generate the standard time of different countries and regions, and measures through satellite link comparisons every day, and then according to the performance of each atomic clock, uses a special algorithm to calculate a stable free atomic time.
After determining the stable free atomic time, by running in some national timekeeping laboratories, about 10 reference clocks that have been internationally certified conduct second-length calibration to form both stable and accurate International Atomic Time. This process of second-length calibration of free atomic time is controlling International Atomic Time.
In December 2023, The National Time Service Center submitted a written application for the cesium atomic fountain clock NTSC-CsF2 to participate in the control work of International Atomic Time. After conducting multiple rounds of discussions and evaluations, all members of the working group unanimously agreed t hat NTSC-CsF2 participates in controlling International Atomic Time.
The official pointed out that currently, only the United States and China have the R&D capabilities of all types of atomic clocks and Universal Time measurement systems required for the generation of national standard time. The series of new atomic clocks and Universal Time measurement systems developed and applied by the National Time Service Center not only achieve the independent controllability of national standard time, but also achieve advanced performance.