Russian Scientists Develop Frequency Standards for Optical Clock Accuracy

Russian scientists have developed optical frequency standards that would reduce optical clock inaccuracy and advance research in unmanned transportation.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian scientists have developed optical frequency standards based on cold atoms that would reduce optical clock inaccuracy and advance research in unmanned transportation, the head of the Federal Agency on Technical Regulating and Metrology (Rosstandart) told Sputnik.

"The first optical standards of frequency based on cold atoms — optical clocks — have already been created in Russia. Their accuracy and stability are currently among the best in the world," Aleksey Abramov said.

Abramov explained that optical clocks' high sensitivity to Earth's gravitational field allow them to predict volcanic eruptions from changes in the so-called atomic pendulum's frequency and to increase navigational accuracy by calculating elevation above sea level.

"Along with the high accuracy of determining coordinates, this will make it possible to make a step forward in the creation of unmanned vehicles, aircraft and ships," he said.