Time and frequency applications

Abstract

An overview is given of the capabilities of atomic clocks and quartz crystal oscillators in terms of available precision of time and frequency signals. The generation, comparison, and dissemination of time and frequency is then discussed. The principal focus is to survey uses of time and frequency in navigation, communication, and science. The examples given include the Global Positioning System, a satellite-based global navigation system, and general and dedicated communication networks, as well as experiments in general relativity and radioastronomy. The number of atomic clocks and crystal oscillators that are in actual use worldwide is estimated.

A New Approach for the Characterization of Nonstationary Oscillators Using the Wigner-Ville Distribution

“…In recent years, due to the high data rates required to be transferred in communication networks, the demand for high accuracy satellite navigation systems and the development of high resolution radars and clocks with very high precision are required. Stable oscillators, including atomic ones like rubidium and even cesium atomic, are often used in communication and navigation facilities [1][2][3][4][5][6]. In addition to the above applications, many other electronic systems require frequency generators.…”