Division A WG Time Metrology Standards — Functional

Description

The Working Group with the link to time metrology standards within the IAU Division A has the objective of enhancing the interaction between astronomers and the time and frequency metrology community. The time metrology community provides the reference time scale, of atomic nature, which is the basis of coordinate times used for space-time referencing in astronomy. The dynamical time scale based on precision timing of pulsars has the potential of improving the long-term standard of time. Changes forecasted in the next years will require common actions of astronomers and metrologists; examples are the possible new definition of the second consequence of the advent of optical clocks, and the contribution to the studies on the adoption of a uniform international reference time scale.