Atomic time-keeping from 1955 to the present

Bernard Guinot (1, 2) , Elisa Felicitas Arias (1, 2, 3)

1 SYRTE - Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace
2 Rotation de la Terre et géodésie spatiale
3 BIPM - Bureau International des Poids et Mesures

This paper summarizes the creation and technical evolution of atomic time scales, recalling the parallel development of their acceptance and the remaining problems. We consider a consequence of the accuracy of time measurement, i.e. the entry of Einstein's general relativity into metrology and its applications. We give some details about the method of calculation and the characteristics of International Atomic Time, and we show how it is disseminated at the ultimate level of precision.

Domaines: Astrophysique [astro-ph]

Bernard Guinot, Elisa Felicitas Arias. Atomic time-keeping from 1955 to the present. Metrologia, 2005, 42, pp.20. ⟨10.1088/0026-1394/42/3/S04⟩. ⟨hal-03742516⟩