An Automated Time-Keeping System

The fully automated time-keeping system of the Van Swinden Laboratory (VSL) is described. The microprocessor-based system compares and measures clocks and time signals at programmed fixed times. Thus a flexible system is created, which makes it possible to carry out a large number of measurements over short periods and to process the measurement data automatically. For this purpose a series of special devices have been constructed. The uncertainty in the whole system is of the order 1 ns.