Project: Optical frequency transfer - a European network

Caesium atomic clocks are used to accurately define the second, the SI base unit of time. But optical atomic clocks are more accurate and more stable than caesium clocks, and are the most promising candidates for use in the proposed re-definition of the second. Clocks in different locations need to be regularly compared to reveal and reduce uncertainty, but the current satellite-based techniques used to compare caesium clocks are not precise enough. This project will build on the achievements of EMRP project SIB02 NEAT-FT and help to unlock the full accuracy potential of optical atomic clocks, by developing comparison techniques for optical clocks based on optical fibres, including installing and upgrading fibre optic links between European National Measurement Institutes. This network will allow optical clocks to be compared at new levels of accuracy and will pave the way for future improvements in the precision of time measurement in fields such as transport, communications and finance.

Acronym 15SIB05 OFTEN (Reference Number: 15SIB05)
Duration 01/06/2016 - 01/06/2019
Project Topic Metrology
Project Results
(after finalisation)
See Website
Website visit project website
Network EMPIR
Call EMPIR CALL 2015

Project partner

Number Name Role Country
1 Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Coordinator Germany
2 Cesky Metrologicky Institut Partner Czech Republic
3 Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica Partner Italy
4 NPL Management Limited Partner United Kingdom
5 Observatoire de Paris Partner France
6 SP Sveriges Tekniska Forskningsinstitut AB Partner Sweden
7 Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu Partner Türkiye
8 Akademia Gorniczo-Hutnicza im. Stanislawa Staszica w Krakowie Partner Poland
9 Chalmers tekniska hoegskola AB Partner Sweden
10 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Partner France
10 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Partner France
10 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Partner France
10 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Partner France
10 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Partner France
10 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Partner France
10 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Partner France
10 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Partner France
11 Instytut Chemii Bioorganicznej, Polskiej Akademii Nauk Partner Poland
12 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique France
12 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique France
12 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique France
12 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique France
12 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique France
12 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique France
12 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique France
12 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique France