Synchronisation with cold ion trapped ytterbium - SYNCHRONICITY

Precise measurement of time is fundamental to the effective functioning of services we take for granted in modern society. This project is a major step in developing a reliable, widely available timing standard that is one hundred times more stable and accurate than those commercial systems in use today. It will enhance resilience and reliability of energy supply, safety of transport links, data networks and electronic financial transactions. The enhanced performance will enable advances in mobile telecommunications such as transition to a 5G network. The use of GPS for timing signal in these essential systems is widespread but vulnerability to accidental or malicious disruption is an emerging concern. The impact of the loss of power, transportation and communications could easily become catastrophic in the very short term and disrupt our highly interdependent society in the long term. The Royal Academy of Engineering highlighted these issues in their report of 2011 and that message is creating a demand for timing solutions that are not GPS dependent. The precision clock in this project is based on transferring the UK’s National Physical Laboratory know-how into British industry and creating a technical and economic success for the UK.