The Importance of Precision Timekeeping - From Atomic Clocks to Future Innovations

Explore the critical importance of precision timekeeping in this comprehensive lecture from the National Physical Laboratory. Trace the evolution of timekeeping from historical methods to modern atomic clocks, and understand how Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is now measured. Learn why accurate timekeeping is crucial for the financial sector, including its role in preventing stock market crashes. Discover time's hidden utility in GPS systems and the risks associated with over-reliance on satellite navigation. Delve into the future of timekeeping, including the development of a nationwide timing infrastructure and next-generation optical atomic clocks. Gain insights into the inner workings of atomic clocks and their extreme accuracy, culminating in discussions about redefining the very concept of a second.

Intro to time measurement
How timekeeping was standardised
The atomic clock revolution
How is time now measured with UTC?
Why is accurate time needed by the finance sector?
Accurate time stamps prevent stock market crashes
How NPL supports the financial sector
Why time is a hidden utility for GPS
The risks of position, navigation and timing dependency
The future of the time scale
A nationwide timing infrastructure
Optical atomic clocks for the future
How do atomic clocks work?
The extreme accuracy of optical clocks
Redefining what a second is