Monday, March 19, 2012
new nuclear clock with unparalleled accuracy
The standard nuclear clock is actually based on atomic physics as opposed to nuclear physics. Atomic clocks are used in many scientific disciplines, such as for long-baseline interferometry in radio-astronomy as well as GPS systems and time signal radio transmitters. They are used for their extremely high precision, but that may change in the near future. the new proposed time keeping technology is tied to the orbiting of a
neutron around an atomic nucleus. It could have such unprecedented accuracy that it
neither gains nor loses 1/20th of a second in 14 billion years. This nearly 100 times more accurate than the atomic clocks we use today. Scientists could be able to better test fundamental physical theories
at unprecedented levels of precision and provide an unmatched tool for applied
physics research. This could also assist fundamental physics and system synchronization in particle
accelerators and improve further diversified applications
previously unreachable by atomic clocks. It is much better than standard atomic clocks because the neutron is held so tightly to the
nucleus and its oscillation rate is almost completely unaffected by any external
perturbations, unlike those of an atomic clock's electrons, which are much more
loosely bound. Simply put, this new nuclear clock with unparalleled accuracy could be the new technology that helps probe science with more detail.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment