Application of Kalman Algorithm to Atomic Time

LI Bian1,2, QU Li-li1, GAO Yu-ping1

(1. National Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710600, China;

2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China)

Abstract: In order to seek for the possible way to improve the algorithm for local atomic time, the application of Kalman algorithm to atomic time is studied based on the discrete and dynamic model of atomic clocks. The time scales TA(ALGOS) and TA(Kalman) are calculated with ALGOS and Kalman algorithms respectively by adopting the data of the 18 cesium clocks operated at the National Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The results show that the performances of the two timescales are similar, i.e., they are equivalent in short-term and long-term stabilities.

Key words: time scale; Kalman algorithm; frequency stability