Atomic Clocks for One-Nation, One-Time

India is deploying atomic clocks across the country to ensure the time shown on your digital watch, smartphone and laptop is truly based on Indian Standard Time.

1. India will join an exclusive group of 4 other countries—the US, the UK, Japan, and Korea—to have their own atomic clocks
2. An effort launched more than 2 decades ago after the Kargil war.
3. Currently, most software operating modules in India rely on US-based Network Time Protocol servers.
4. The government wants all software to instead be synchronised with indigenous atomic clocks, both for uniformity in time and as a defence mechanism, especially in times of war.

Key Points:

Deployment Goal:

1. Synchronization of all digital devices with Indian Standard Time (IST) to ensure uniformity.
2. Deployment by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) under the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

What are Atomic Clocks?

1. An atomic clock is the most accurate timekeeping device known to man. Unlike traditional clocks that use mechanical or quartz-crystal oscillations, atomic clocks measure time based on the natural vibrations of atoms.
2. Invented in 1955 by Louise Essen.
3. Currently operational in Ahmedabad and Faridabad in India.

Types of Atomic Clocks:

1. Common types include cesium atomic beam, hydrogen maser, and rubidium gas cell.
2. Cesium clock offers high accuracy and long-term stability.
3. Hydrogen maser has the best stability for short periods.

How it works:

1. Atomic Resonance: Atomic clocks use a specific type of atom, most commonly cesium-133. These atoms have a natural resonant frequency, which is the number of times they vibrate per second. This frequency is incredibly stable and consistent.
2. Microwave Cavity: The cesium atoms are placed in a microwave cavity, where they are exposed to microwaves at a frequency close to their natural resonant frequency.
3. Energy Level Transition: When the microwave frequency matches the cesium's resonant frequency, the atoms absorb the energy and transition to a higher energy level. This transition is detected and used to fine-tune the microwave frequency.
4. Counting Oscillations: A feedback loop continuously adjusts the microwave frequency to keep it in sync with the cesium's resonant frequency. By counting the oscillations of the microwaves, the clock accurately measures time.
5. Second Definition: The international standard unit of time, the second, is defined as 9,192,631,770 cycles of the radiation that gets cesium-133 atoms to vibrate between two specific energy levels.

Why are atomic clocks so accurate?

1. Atomic Stability: The natural resonant frequency of atoms is incredibly stable and unaffected by external factors like temperature or pressure changes.
2. High Frequency: The vibrations of atoms occur at extremely high frequencies (billions of cycles per second), allowing for very precise time measurements.

Applications of Atomic Clocks:

1. Timekeeping: Atomic clocks are used to maintain the international standard for time and to synchronise clocks around the world.
2. Navigation Systems: GPS and other satellite navigation systems rely on atomic clocks for accurate positioning.
3. Scientific Research: Atomic clocks are used in various fields of research, such as physics, astronomy, and geology.

3. Why is India Developing its Atomic Clocks?
   1. Background:
      1. Initiative sparked by the denial of Global Positioning System (GPS) information during the Kargil War.
      2. Independent timekeeping capabilities crucial for defense, cybersecurity, and online transactions.
   2. Need for Enhanced Security Measures:
      1. Efforts to connect atomic clocks via optical cables for enhanced security against potential disruptions.
      2. Reducing reliance on foreign atomic clocks, especially for critical infrastructure like the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) or NavIC.

Significance:

Developing indigenous atomic clocks grants India complete control over its navigation systems, ensuring national security and technological independence.

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