Atomic clock

an atomic clock is a clock, whose clock pulse (usually a microwave signal) with atomic Schwingungszuständen is adjusted. Since the frequency of such oscillations is constant and can be determined very exactly, atomic clocks are the so far most exact built clocks. From the measured values of over 260 atomic clockson over 60 institutes distributed world-wide „the office international of the Poids puts et Mesures “ (BIPM) into of Paris (France) „the international atomic time “(TA) as a reference time firmly.

function mode of oneAtomic clock

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As atomic transition frequently the hyperfine structure - transition F =4, m F ₌₀ → F =3, m F ₌₀ 2 ^S of the 1/2 _- initial state 133 ^cesium becomes - atom uses. This transition has a frequency of 9,192631770 GHz. 1967 became the SI-UNIT second overthis value fixed.

so long the temperature of the cesium is not extremely low (in the order of magnitude 1 mK), is about equivalent occupied both conditions. In order to be able to measure the transition, one of the conditions must be selected. That takes place either by means of the fact that one an atomic beamby a strong, inhomogenous magnetic field sends, or by optical pumping with laser light.

The second main part of an atomic clock is a microwave cavity, in which transitions between the two conditions can take place. After the reciprocal effect with the microwave field occupation is finally measured at the beginning of out-selected condition.If the frequency of the microwave cavity agrees with the frequency of the transition, one receives a signal maximum.

In newer atomic clocks one works with slower cesium - atoms, in order to increase the accuracy. In „the cesium Fontäne “cesium atoms are first strongly cooled down, so that them only abouta centimeter per second are fast. (In the thermal atomic beam there is about 100 meters per second.) the slow atoms are accelerated then with a laser upward and go through a ballistic flight path (therefore the expression cesium Fontäne), thereby the effective reciprocal effect duration of the atoms can with the irradiated microwaves to be extended, which permits a more accurate frequency regulation. The course uncertainty of a conventional atomic clock amounts to about 1·10 ^{- for 14} (1 second of deviation in 3 million years), a cesium Fontäne however is appropriate with approximately 1·10 ^{- 15} (one second of deviation in 30 million years).

Beside cesiumalso rubidium, hydrogen and other atoms or molecules for atomic clocks are used. In order to achieve larger accuracies, what is worthwhile, in order to be able to accomplish physical experiments more exactly, at present experiments with elements are made, which have suitable transitions with optical wavelengths. Thereby one reachesFrequencies of hundred Tera cycles per second in place of the conventional 9 GHz. In these experiments individual ions in Paul case are stored and a laser is stabilized on a narrow-band transition (usually a quadrupole - or octupole transition). The technical challenge thereby is it, the high-stableTo down-divide laser frequency on electronically measurable frequencies. For this at the institute for Max-Planck for quantum optics a procedure was developed (frequency comb).

Another line of development beside the highly precise clocks pursues the building of more inexpensive, smaller, lighter and more energy-saving clocks, z. B. for the employment in satellites, rockets or drones. Satellite navigation systems such as government inspection department, GLONASS or (in the future) Galileo use atomic clocks in their satellites, in order to increase by their highly exact time the positioning accuracy. In the year 2003 succeeded in building a rubidium atomic clock only the volume of 40 cm ³ takes and an achievementfrom a Watt uses. It reaches a course uncertainty of approx. 3·10 ^{- 12}. That corresponds to a deviation from one second in 10,000 years, and thus the clock is clearly more inaccurately than the large stationary atomic clocks, but substantially more exact than a quartz clock. (DetailsQuartz clocks have a deviation from one second in one month, compared to these are this small atomic clock 120,000 times more exactly.)

application

atomic clocks serve for apart from accurate time measurement of expirations also to the exact Zeitbestimmung and coordination between different time systems and - scales. Soapproximately the coordinated world time from alignment of the internationally determined atomic time (TAI) with the astronomical time (UT1 ) ( UTC) results.

In Germany several atomic clocks are with the Federal Standards Laboratory (PTB) in Braunschweig in enterprise, under it also a cesium Fontäne in the rule enterprise. Over a long wave transmitterin Mainhausen Mainflingen with Frankfurt/Main all radio clocks receive, over the transmitter DCF77 their signal in Central Europe. The British counterpart to DCF77 is the transmitter MSF60. By means of Network Time Protocol (NTP) the Zeitimpulse of numerous atomic clocks are made available also in the Internet.

Onefurther atomic clock, however in form rubidium - atomic clock, serves the carrier frequency of the long wave broadcasting station there present in Donebach as oscillator for the production.

history

• 1930er Isidor Isaac Rabi, chemist and physicist researches to the Columbia University, the USA at the magnetic characteristicsthe crystals.
• 1944 I.I. Rabi (the USA) receives the Nobelpreis for physics „for the resonance method “1945 I.I. discovered from him to the recording of the magnetic characteristics
• of atomic nuclei. Rabi, physics professor to the Columbia University in the USA suggests a clock, which uses this resonance method.
• 1946 wanting pool of broadcasting corporationsFranc Libby presents an atomic clock on the basis of cesium - to atoms.
• 1949 the first atomic clock with Rabis technology is built by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, (NIST) in the USA and uses ammonia - molecules as source of oscillation.
• Atomic clock cesium-based first to 1955by national the laboratory in Teddington, England is taken in enterprise.
• 1958 the first commercial cesium atomic clocks comes to the price of US$ 20,000 on the market.
• October 1967 the second becomes internationally over cesium-normally by the 13. General conference for measure and weight (CGPM) defines.
• 1969 to the PTB in Germany are taken the first atomic clock, CS1 (cesium unity), in enterprise.
• October 1971 the necessity for the definition of one „Atomic Time “TAI as reference becomes international by the 14. General conference for measure and weight determined. The TAI becomes by that BIPM in Paris administers and steps at the 1. January 1972 into force.
• July 1974 the first satellite has an atomic clock on board, it is the third satellite of the Timation (Time navigation) project of the Naval center for space of the Naval Research Laboratory, (NRL)in the USA and led of the Roger Easton. This is a forerunner project of the government inspection department project.
• 22. February 1978 - The first Navstar/government inspection department - satellite becomes with one „Atlas F “- rocket of the USA started.
• 12. October 1982 - The first GLONASS satellite becomes ofthe USSR started.
• 1999 an atomic clock of the newest generation (cesium Fontäne) are taken to the PTB in enterprise.

Web on the left of

Wiktionary: Atomic clock - word origin, synonyms and translations

• atomic clock 1 - satellite
• atomic clock 2 - self's building
• atomic clock 3 - NIST
• atomic clock 4 global navigation
• working groupTime-normal - PTB
• method for frequency measurement with laser
• the time of the atomic clocks of the Federal Standards Laboratory PTB
• free Windows Tool, that the system time with the atomic clocks of the Federal Standards Laboratory PTB synchronizes
• A web site dedicated tons precise Time & Frequency
• www.wissenschaft.de: The superclock in the cosmos - White dwarf ticks more exactly than atomic clock