tf.nist.govTime and Frequency Division | NIST

An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know Here’s how you know Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division Search NIST Menu Close Topics All Topics Advanced communications Artificial intelligence Bioscience Buildings and construction Chemistry Climate Cybersecurity Electronics Energy Environment Fire Forensic science Health Information technology Infrastructure Manufacturing Materials Mathematics and statistics Metrology Nanotechnology Neutron research Performance excellence Physics Public safety Resilience Standards Transportation Publications Labs & Major Programs Laboratories Communications Technology Laboratory Engineering Laboratory Information Technology Laboratory Material Measurement Laboratory Physical Measurement Laboratory User Facilities NIST Center for Neutron Research CNST NanoFab Research Test Beds Research Projects Tools & Instruments Major Programs Baldrige Performance Excellence Program CHIPS for America Initiative Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Office of Advanced Manufacturing Special Programs Office Technology Partnerships Office Services & Resources Standards and Measurements Calibration Services Laboratory Accreditation (NVLAP) Quality System Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) Standard Reference Instruments (SRIs) Standards.gov Time Services Office of Weights and Measures Software Data Chemistry WebBook National Vulnerability Database Physical Reference Data Standard Reference Data (SRD) Storefront License & Patents Computer Security Resource Center (CSRC) NIST Research Library News & Events News Events Blogs Feature Stories Awards Video Gallery Image Gallery Media Contacts About NISTLeadership Organization Structure Budget & Planning Contact Us Visit Careers Student programs Work with NIST History NIST Digital Archives NIST Museum NIST and the Nobel Educational Resources Physical Measurement Laboratory Time and Frequency Division The Time and Frequency Division maintains the standard for frequency and time interval for the United States, provides official time to the United States, and carries out a broad program of research and service activities in time and frequency metrology. Laboratory Homepage Division Homepage Official United States Time Groups Expand or Collapse Atomic Devices and Instrumentation Ion Storage Neutral Atom Optical Clocks Phase Noise Metrology Precision Photonic Synthesis Quantum & Nonlinear Nanophotonics Time Realization and Distribution Publications Staff Directory Time Distribution Expand or Collapse Automated Computer Time Service (ACTS) GPS Data Archive GPS Time Transfer Internet Time Service (ITS) Radio Station WWV Radio Station WWVB Radio Station WWVH Remote Frequency Calibrations (FMAS) Remote Time Calibrations (TMAS) Telephone Time-of-Day (TTDS) Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer (TWSTFT) Time Realization Expand or Collapse Leap Seconds Cesium Fountain Atomic Clocks Time Scale Data and Bulletin Archive UTC(NIST) Time Scale Groups Atomic Devices and Instrumentation Group Ion Storage Group Neutral Atom Optical Clocks Group Phase Noise Metrology Group Precision Photonic Synthesis Group Quantum & Nonlinear Nanophotonics Group Time Realization and Distribution Group Photonics and Chip Scale Devices Time and Frequency Metrology and Distribution Quantum Information, Sensing, and Networking Featured Content Calibrations Services in the Time and Frequency Division Keeping Time at NIST - blog post Help with Radio Controlled Clocks Telephone Time Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Time & Frequency Division History Time and Frequency from A to Z A Walk Through Time News and Updates Shrinking Technology, Expanding Horizons: Compact Chips Advance Precision Timing for Communications, Navigation and Other Applications March 6, 2024 This technology shrinks a tabletop system into a chip-sized format, reducing power usage and making it more applicable for use in everyday devices. Spotlight: Disseminating Time Signals Far and Wide With NIST’s Radio Stations January 31, 2024 There are dedicated, enthusiastic people in this world who have made a cause (and hobby) out of saying, I heard that.” NIST is keenly aware. We’re talking NIST-Designed Photonic Chip Transforms a Single Beam of Light Into Multiple Beams, Each With a Panoply of Different Properties June 30, 2023 Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have devised a photonic circuit on a chip that transforms a single incoming beam of New Tiny Atomic Beam Clock Could Bring Stable Timing to Places GPS Can’t Reach June 21, 2023 A new type of miniature atomic clock could provide better timing over the span of weeks and months compared with current systems. View All News and Updates Events 2024 Time and Frequency Seminar Tue, Aug 13 - Thu, Aug 15 2024 NIST Time and Frequency Division’s annual seminar covers precision clocks and oscillators, atomic frequency standards View All Events Projects and Programs Bringing the SI to Global Atmospheric Greenhouse Gas Measurement Ongoing We are developing a comprehensive next-generation greenhouse gas (GHG) calibration system capable of extending SI traceability to global satellite remote Chip-scale ultraprecise laser technologies Ongoing Our research focuses on miniaturized laser sources with narrow linewidth that can operate in ambient environments. Lasers with high spectral purity can enable a Compact Cold Atom Instruments Ongoing Our research focuses on the development of novel sensing platforms using cold atomic gases and atomic beams. Laboratory-scale cold atom apparatuses provide some Compact strontium optical clock with integrated photonics Ongoing We are developing a scalable infrastructure for strontium optical-lattice clocks based on integrated photonics. This research results in new technologies to View All Projects/Programs Awards 2023 - Allen V. Astin Measurement Science Award-Jeff Sherman, Ladan Arissian, Roger Brown , Bijunath Patla For exceptional performance and dedication in the realization and dissemination of the national standard of frequency, time, and time interval. 2023 - Dr. Willie E. May Award for Distinguished Career at NIST-John Bollinger For a career of research in trapped-ion metrology applied to atomic clocks and quantum manipulation, computation, and simulation. 2023 APL Rising Stars Collection - Benedikt Hampel, Daniel Slichter, Dietrich Leibfried, Richard Mirin, Sae Woo Nam, Varun Verma The Rising Stars Collection features notable APL papers by emerging investigators. These papers were identified by the editors and Rising 2022 Distinguished Associate Award - Vladislav Gerginov For long-term and extraordinary contributions in support of NIST’s atomic clock and sensing programs. View All Awards Press Coverage Chip converts light into microwaves Electronics Weekly March 13, 2024 The chips reduce timing jitter to 15 femtoseconds making the signals more stable and precise in ways that could increase radar sensitivity, the accuracy of ADCs New light-to-microwave converting tech could revolutionize GPS, radars Interesting Engineering March 7, 2024 The new microchip effectively shrinks a tabletop’s worth of components, making it energy efficient and practical for everyday use. This tiny chip could turn light into microwaves Knowridge March 7, 2024 In a big leap for technology, a group of scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and their partners have developed a small Downsizing Microwave Tech for Efficiency Hackster.io March 6, 2024 A new chip shrinks photonic lightwave systems, reducing power usage and size, to enable more precise navigation and communication systems....