Time and Frequency standards
The steadiness of atomic physics for measuring time
INRIM works out fundamental scientific research in the field of atomic clocks. Among the microwave standards, INRIM places its activity at the highest level in terms of accuracy, contributing to the development of optical standards, as well, that represent the most promising technology in the next future of frequency metrology.
INRIM cooperates with the most important European metrology institutes to the development of a fiber optics network aimed to disseminate a time and frequency reference with an accuracy largely improved with respect to the present satellite methods.
Besides, it molds and then provides the national time standard, that represent the Italian legal reference for time. It is held in agreement with the Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) and INRIM contributes to the International Atomic Time (TAI) that is formed at the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) in Paris.