Atomic Clocks and Oscillators

Safran is a world leader in rubidium atomic clocks and oscillators, rubidium standards, maser, testing instrument technologies and more that rely on accurate atomic time. Whether you need short or long term stability, our decades of experience designing and manufacturing products is trusted by companies ranging from global enterprises to space initiatives.

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Products:

Rubidium Clocks and Oscillators
GPS / GNSS Synchronized Rb Modules
Space-Qualified Rubidium Standards and Oscillators
Active Hydrogen Maser
GPS / GNSS Rb Standards

What is an Atomic Clock?

An atomic clock is a highly precise timing device that uses the natural oscillations of atoms to generate an exceptionally stable frequency reference. Unlike conventional clocks that rely on mechanical movement or quartz-based oscillators, atomic clocks measure the resonant frequency of atoms, such as rubidium or cesium, to maintain accurate time. Once the atomic resonance is detected, the clock continuously corrects its internal oscillator to match this stable atomic reference.

Atomic clocks can precisely measure the passage of time, providing highly accurate timing and frequency signals for synchronization applications. In telecommunications, for example, this could mean keeping network infrastructure and data transmission aligned. In satellite navigation systems, atomic clocks provide the precise timing required to calculate position and navigation information. In defense, aerospace, and critical infrastructure, they help systems maintain trusted time when accurate synchronization is essential.

Because atomic clocks can maintain precise time over long periods, and they are highly reliable across demanding environments, they are used in a variety of industries.

Trusted Atomic Clock Technology Across Critical Industries

Aerospace & Defense
Used in mission-critical timing and synchronization systems, atomic clocks and oscillators provide precise frequency references for communications, radar, electronic warfare, and navigation systems operating in contested or GNSS-denied environments.

Telecommunications & Networks
Atomic clocks and oscillators help maintain synchronization across telecommunications infrastructure, supporting reliable data transmission, wireless networks, and critical communications systems.

Space Systems
Safran Atomic Clocks are embedded on board satellites in space, providing highly stable timing references for navigation payloads, onboard synchronization, and missions requiring long-term accuracy and reliability.

Critical Infrastructure
Atomic clocks and oscillators enable precise timing for power grids, financial transactions, data centers, and other critical infrastructure where continuous synchronization and trusted time are essential.

Use Cases for Atomic Clocks & Oscillators

GNSS Resilience

Atomic clocks maintain accurate timing during GNSS outages, enabling critical systems to continue operating reliably when external timing signals are unavailable.

Network Synchronization

Atomic clocks and oscillators keep communications networks synchronized, supporting reliable data transmission, wireless connectivity, and critical infrastructure operations.

Satellite Timing

Atomic clocks provide precise timing references for satellite systems, supporting navigation, communications, and mission-critical synchronization in space environments.

Electronic Warfare

Atomic clocks support resilient timing for defense systems, helping maintain synchronization and operational effectiveness in contested electromagnetic environments.

Financial Transactions

Atomic clocks deliver trusted timing for financial networks, enabling accurate timestamping and synchronization of high-speed transactions and trading systems.

Critical Infrastructure

Atomic clocks and oscillators provide stable timing for power grids, transportation networks, and other essential services that depend on continuous synchronization.

Key Features & Benefits of Atomic Frequency Sources

Safran’s atomic clocks and oscillators are designed to provide highly stable timing and frequency references across a wide range of applications. Our timing solutions have been engineered to operate reliably in demanding environments, ensuring exceptional accuracy, long-term stability, and trusted synchronization performance when precise timing is critical.

Key features include excellent frequency stability, low phase noise, extended holdover performance, and robust environmental resilience. The table below highlights representative performance specifications, including frequency accuracy, aging rate, phase noise, holdover capability, and power consumption.

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Feature	Description	Customer Benefit
Frequency Stability	Maintains a highly consistent frequency output over time and varying operating conditions.	Improves synchronization accuracy and reduces timing errors.
Holdover Performance	Continues providing accurate timing during GNSS outages or loss of external synchronization.	Ensures uninterrupted operation in GNSS-denied environments.
Low Phase Noise	Generates a clean frequency signal with minimal short-term fluctuations.	Enhances signal integrity and system performance.
Long-Term Accuracy	Delivers precise timing with minimal drift over extended periods.	Reduces maintenance requirements and recalibration frequency.
Environmental Robustness	Designed to operate reliably across challenging temperature, vibration, and shock conditions.	Supports deployment in aerospace, defense, and industrial environments.
Low SWaP-C Options	Available in compact, lightweight, and power-efficient configurations.	Simplifies integration into size and power constrained systems.

High-Performance Rubidium Atomic Clocks

Safran Rubidium Atomic Clocks are made with the microwave optical double resonance (MODR) technique, providing you with a low SWaP-C solution in a small form factor. It’s designed to meet the latest commercial, military and aerospace requirements where time stability and power consumption are critical. It provides a one day holdover below 500 ns in a form factor (50.8 x 50.8 x 16mm) that takes up only 42 cc of volume (about one-third of the volume compared to standard rubidiums) and consumes only 0.5W of power in the steady state function (it consumes 1.5W of power using the high performance function), which is about ten times less than existing solutions with similar capabilities.

Since Safran’s atomic clocks are ruggedized, they are able to provide accurate frequency and precise atomic time synchronization to mobile applications, such as military radio-pack systems in GNSS-degraded or denied environments. Its wide-ranging operating temperature of -40° to +80°C is also ideal for Underwater, Military, Radars, Low Earth Orbit, Electronic Warfare, Airbornes & Avionics, and UAV/UGV/USV/UUV.

Atomic Clocks and Oscillators

What is an Atomic Clock?

Trusted Atomic Clock Technology Across Critical Industries

Use Cases for Atomic Clocks & Oscillators

GNSS Resilience

Network Synchronization

Satellite Timing

Electronic Warfare

Financial Transactions

Critical Infrastructure

Key Features & Benefits of Atomic Frequency Sources

High-Performance Rubidium Atomic Clocks

Rubidium Clocks and Oscillators

GPS / GNSS Synchronized Rb Modules

Space-Qualified Rubidium Standards and Oscillators

Active Hydrogen Maser

GPS / GNSS Rb Standards

Modules and Kits

Clock Instruments for Test

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