Patrick Gill (physicist)

Patrick Gill is a British physicist known for his work in the field of frequency metrology and optical clocks. He is a Senior NPL Fellow at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in the United Kingdom, where he leads research on advanced optical frequency standards and their applications.

Gill's research focuses on developing and improving the accuracy and stability of optical clocks, which are significantly more precise than traditional caesium atomic clocks. His work has contributed to advances in fundamental physics, including tests of general relativity and searches for variations in fundamental constants. He has also been involved in the development of optical clocks based on various atomic species, including strontium, ytterbium, and calcium.

Gill has been recognized for his contributions to the field with numerous awards and honors, including the Thomas Young Medal and Prize from the Institute of Physics. He is a leading figure in the international effort to redefine the second, the base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), based on optical frequency standards. His work also has applications in areas such as satellite navigation, telecommunications, and high-precision measurements.