NIST-developed compact chips convert light into microwaves, improving precision timing for various systems.

NIST researchers have developed compact chips that convert light into microwaves, improving precision timing for GPS, phone and internet connections, radar, and sensing systems. The technology reduces timing jitter, enhancing radar sensitivity, analog-to-digital converter accuracy, and astronomical image clarity. The chips' compact design, similar in size to a digital camera memory card, shrinks systems that were once tabletop-size.