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Quantum Logic Clock Tops Itself

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BOULDER, Colo., Feb. 8, 2010 – —An enhanced version of an experimental atomic clock is boasting more than twice the precision as the previous pacesetter – the original ‘quantum logic clock’ – keeping time to 1 second in 3.7 billion years. Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) based the new atomic clock, which is now the world’s most precise clock, on a single aluminum atom rather than a mercury atom used in the original. (See: More Exact Than an Ion Clock) The new clock is the second version of NIST's ‘quantum logic clock,’ so...Read full article

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    Published: February 2010
    Glossary
    atomic clock
    An atomic clock is a highly precise timekeeping device that uses the vibrations or oscillations of atoms as a reference for measuring time. The most common type of atomic clock uses the vibrations of atoms, typically cesium or rubidium atoms, to define the length of a second. The principle behind atomic clocks is based on the fundamental properties of atoms, which oscillate at extremely stable and predictable frequencies. The primary concept employed in atomic clocks is the phenomenon of...
    optical clock
    An optical clock is a highly precise and advanced timekeeping device that relies on the oscillations of electromagnetic radiation in the optical or ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Unlike traditional atomic clocks, which use microwave frequencies, optical clocks operate at much higher frequencies, typically involving transitions in atoms or ions at optical wavelengths. Optical clocks have the potential to provide unprecedented accuracy and stability in timekeeping. Key points...
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