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What is an Atomic Clock?
What is an Atomic Clock?
June 12, 2024
Researchers have built a portable optical atomic clock that can be used onboard ships.
About Atomic Clock:
An atomic clock is a device that
measures time using the vibrations of atoms.
Specifically, it
uses the oscillations of the electrons
in atoms
to keep time.
It is the
most accurate time-keeping device
available, with a margin of error of just a few billionths of a second per day.
Atomic clocks are far more
precise than conventional clocks
because atomic oscillations have a much higher frequency and are much more stable.
They are used in many applications that require very precise timing, such as
GPS systems,
telecommunications networks
and
scientific research
.
How does an atomic clock work?
Atomic clocks
work by using
a type of atom called a
"cesium atom".
Cesium atoms are
very stable
and have a very specific frequency at which their electrons vibrate.
This frequency is used as the basis for the atomic clock's timekeeping.
To measure time using cesium atoms, an atomic clock uses a device called a
"microwave cavity".
The microwave cavity is a chamber that is filled with cesium vapor.
A
microwave signal
is then sent into the cavity, which causes the cesium atoms to vibrate.
As the cesium atoms vibrate, they
emit radiation
at a very specific frequency.
This frequency is then
detected by a detector
, which compares it to a standard frequency.
The difference between the two frequencies is used to adjust the clock's timekeeping.
Types of atomic clocks:
There are two types of atomic clocks: cesium atomic clocks and hydrogen maser atomic clocks.
Cesium atomic clocks
are the most common and are used to define the international standard for time, called Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Hydrogen maser atomic clocks
are even more accurate than cesium atomic clocks and are used in scientific research.
Source :
New portable atomic clock offers very accurate timekeeping at sea
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