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General Interest T&F Publications
The table below includes a list of general interest time and frequency publications authored by NIST personnel. These publications are made available as PDF files that can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
| Category | Title and Description | Lead Author | Place of Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction | From Sundials to Atomic Clocks: Understanding Time and Frequency Originally published in 1977, this full-length book provides a comprehensive, easy-to-understand introduction to the field of time and frequency. Readers of nearly all ages and educational backgrounds should find it enjoyable. 306 pages. | Jespersen | NIST Monograph 155, 1999 |
| NIST Time Signals | NIST Time and Frequency Services An illustrated, comprehensive overview that describes NIST Radio Stations WWVB, WWV, and WWVH work, and how you can use them. The NIST computer time and frequency calibration services are also briefly discussed. 80 pages. | Lombardi | NIST Special Publication 432, 2002 |
| How Accurate is a Radio Controlled Clock? A detailed discussion of the accuracy of WWVB radio controlled clocks. It reviews the factors that limit the accuracy of a radio-controlled clock, including the path delay between the radio station and the clock, how accurately the clock synchronizes with the signal, and how accurately the clock keeps time between synchronizations. 4 pages. | Lombardi | The Horological Journal, March 2010 | |
| WWVB Radio Controlled Clocks: Recommended Practices for Manufacturers and Consumers A booklet containing recommended practices for WWVB radio controlled clock manufacturers, plus tips for consumers attempting to troubleshoot reception problems. 64 pages. | Lombardi | NIST Special Publication 960-14, 2009 | |
| Radio Controlled Wristwatches A general interest article about the various types of radio controlled wristwatches. 5 pages. | Lombardi | The Horological Journal, May 2006 | |
| Radio Controlled Clocks A discussion of the history of radio controlled clocks, how they work, and the types of radio signals that control them. 18 pages. | Lombardi | 2003 NCSLI Conference | |
| Atomic Standards | NIST Primary Frequency Standards and the Realization of the SI Second A detailed overview of the primary frequency standards at NIST that covers their history, design, and the theory of operation. Includes color photographs of all of the NIST primary cesium standards and an extensive list of references. 17 pages. | Lombardi | Measure: The Journal of Measurement Science, December 2007 |
| Standards of Time and Frequency at the Outset of the 21st Century A nicely written overview that examines the first fifty years of microwave atomic clocks, and the ongoing progression towards optical standards. 7 pages. | Diddams | Science, November 2004 | |
| Time Measurement at the Millennium A discussion of recent developments in atomic timekeeping, written for the NIST centennial in 2001. Winner of the 2001 NIST Condon award for best paper. 6 pages. | Bergquist | Physics Today, March 2001 | |
| Primary Atomic Frequency Standards at NIST A discussion of the primary atomic frequency standards that have been developed at NIST. Includes some historical information, but is mainly about recent, current, and possible future standards. 17 pages. | Sullivan | NIST Journal of Research, January-February 2001 | |
| Accurate Measurement of Time Excellent general interest article about atomic timekeeping. 8 pages. | Itano | Scientific American, July 1993 | |
| Computer Timekeeping | NIST Computer Time Services: Internet Time Service (ITS), Automated Computer Time Service (ACTS), and time.gov Web Sites A thorough discussion of how the NIST computer time services work. 79 pages. | Levine | NIST Special Publication 250-59, May 2002 |
| GPS Time Transfer | Time and Frequency Dissemination: Advances in GPS Transfer Techniques An overview of the various ways GPS is used for time and frequency applications. Written by authors from NIST and the United States Naval Observatory (USNO). 7 pages. | Parker | GPS World, November 2004 |
| The Use of GPS Disciplined Oscillators as Primary Frequency Standards for Calibration and Metrology Laboratories A discussion of the use of GPS disciplined oscillators (GPSDOs) in calibration laboratories. It discusses how GPSDOs work, how measurement traceability can be established with a GPSDO, and how their performance can vary significantly from model to model. 10 pages. | Lombardi | Measure: The Journal of Measurement Science, September 2008. | |
| Time and frequency distribution using satellites A comprehensive discussion of how time and frequency information is distributed through GPS and other satellite systems. 46 pages. | Levine | Reports on Progress in Physics, July 2002 | |
| Time and Frequency Measurements using the Global Positioning System (GPS) An overview of the various types of GPS measurements, including the one-way, two-way, and carrier phase techniques. Includes a discussion of traceability. 8 pages. | Lombardi | Cal Lab Magazine, July-September 2001 | |
| History | The Evolution of Time Measurement, Part 1: Celestial, Flow, and Mechanical Clocks The Evolution of Time Measurement, Part 2: Quartz Clocks The Evolution of Time Measurement, Part 3: Atomic Clocks The Evolution of Time Measurement, Part 4: The Atomic Second The Evolution of Time Measurement, Part 5: Radio Controlled Clocks A five-part series of short articles about the history of clocks and timekeeping. The articles range from 4 to 8 pages in length, and attempt to focus on the most significant events in the history of timekeeping, by discussing both the advances in technology and the people involved. Illustrated with color photos. | Lombardi | IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Magazine, August 2011 - April 2012 |
| Time and Frequency Measurement at NIST: The First 100 Years A history of time and frequency activities at NIST, written for the NIST centennial in 2001. 14 pages. | Sullivan | 2001 IEEE Frequency Control Symposium | |
| Metrology | Characterization of Clocks and Oscillators A collection of published papers assembled as a reference for those involved in characterizing and specifying high-performance clocks and oscillators. Includes extensive information about measurement techniques and data analysis. 352 pages. | Sullivan | NIST Technical Note 1337, 1990 |
| Time and Frequency Users Manual A detailed, easy-to-read overview of time and frequency measurements. Includes information about quartz and atomic oscillators, and the various radio signals used as measurement references. Outdated in some areas, but still useful. 160 pages. | Kamas | NIST Special Publication 559, 1990 | |
| Time and Frequency Measurement A collection of classic time and frequency papers published by authors from NIST and elsewhere. Includes a comprehensive bibliography. 143 pages. | Hackman | American Associations of Physics Teachers Publication, 1996 | |
| Introduction to time and frequency metrology An introduction to the principles and concepts of time and frequency metrology. 30 pages. | Levine | Review of Scientific Instruments, June 1999 | |
| Fundamentals of Time and Frequency An overview of time and frequency metrology intended for non-specialists. 18 pages. | Lombardi | The Mechatronics Handbook, 2001 | |
| Legal and Technical Measurement Requirements for Time and Frequency An overview of time and frequency requirements for various technologies and applications. 10 pages. | Lombardi | Measure: The Journal of Measurement Science, September 2006 | |
| Handbook of Frequency Stability Analysis An excellent reference source that covers the statistics used for the analysis of time and frequency data. It also provides a brief overview of measurement techniques. 136 pages. | Riley | NIST Special Publication 1065, 2008 | |
| Stopwatch and Timer Calibrations A NIST recommended practice guide that describes several ways to calibrate stopwatches and timers. 82 pages. | Gust | NIST Special Publication 960-12, 2009 |
Created May 17, 2010, Updated November 7, 2016