Atomic Clock

Topic: New Technologies

Why in the news?

• A Raman Research Institute (RRI) team working with cold Rydberg atoms have used quantum magnetometry to help atomic clocks and magnetometers used for precise timekeeping in navigation, telecommunication and aviation, achieve higher precision and make them additionally robust.

Source: The Hindu 

About Atomic Clock:

• It 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.
•  It is far more precise than conventional clock because atomic oscillations have a much higher frequency and are much more stable.
• It is used in many applications that require very precise timing, such as GPS systems,telecommunications networks, and scientific research.
• Working:
  • 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\", which 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, which 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: 
  • Cesium atomic clocks: These are the most common and are used to define the international standard for time, called Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
  • Hydrogen maser atomic clocks: These are even more accurate than cesium atomic clocks and are used in scientific research.