atomic time
Ultraprecise clock standard
Atomic time is timekeeping based on the vibrations of atoms—specifically cesium atoms, whose oscillations define the second with extreme precision.
International Atomic Time coordinates hundreds of atomic clocks worldwide to maintain a universal standard.
Unlike astronomical time, which drifts with Earth's rotation, atomic time is invariant: GPS satellites rely on atomic time for positioning accuracy.
Universal time standard
- GMTGlobal time baseline
- radio broadcastTransmitted audio programming
- world clockMulti-timezone time display
- epochDistinct historical period
Degree of correctness
- exactnessCorrectness in every detail
- nanosecondsBillionths of seconds
- femtosecondsTrillionths of microseconds
- picosecondsTrillionths of a second
milliseconds · synchronization · calibration · measurement · interval · timing · stability · drift
Alkali metal, number fifty-five
- clocksInstruments displaying hours
- oscillatorCyclic signal generator
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
- rubidiumAlkali metal, atomic thirty-seven
microwave · quartz · signal · pulses · networks · satellite · strontium · ytterbium
Elemental variant by mass
- electronNegative subatomic particle
- quantumSmallest discrete unit
- transitionChange from one state
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
spectroscopy · energy levels · resonance · wavelength · photon · electromagnetic · decay · absorption
UTC
Universal time standard
- GMTGlobal time baseline
- radio broadcastTransmitted audio programming
- world clockMulti-timezone time display
accuracy
Degree of correctness
- exactnessCorrectness in every detail
- nanosecondsBillionths of seconds
- femtosecondsTrillionths of microseconds
picoseconds · milliseconds · synchronization · calibration · measurement · interval · timing · stability · drift · deviation
cesium
Alkali metal, number fifty-five
- clocksInstruments displaying hours
- oscillatorCyclic signal generator
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
rubidium · microwave · quartz · signal · pulses · networks · satellite · strontium · ytterbium · crystal
isotope
Elemental variant by mass
- electronNegative subatomic particle
- quantumSmallest discrete unit
- transitionChange from one state
radiation · spectroscopy · energy levels · resonance · wavelength · photon · electromagnetic · decay · absorption · emission
time, atom, atomic, subatomic, atomic clock, atomicity, atomically, atomics, atomic structure