Title: NIST Researchers Investigate Atomic Clock Frequency Shifts
NIST scientists are studying how atomic clock frequencies can be affected by various factors, with a focus on ytterbium (Yb) optical lattice clocks. They found that Yb atoms in room-temperature conditions tick slower by a factor of approximately 0.9999999999999976 due to thermal radiation. This research aims to identify and mitigate problematic frequency perturbations in atomic clocks, both established and prospective, such as the thorium-229 “nuclear” clock.
The team has published numerous papers on this topic, including studies on trap-induced ac Zeeman shifts, high-accuracy optical clocks based on group-16-like highly charged ions, and quadruply ionized barium as a candidate for a high-accuracy optical clock. Their research involves theoretical and experimental studies to improve the accuracy and precision of atomic clocks.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/optical-clock-atomic-structure-and-theory
Keywords: Atomic Transition, Optical Lattice, Frequency Perturbation, Quantum Levels, Atomic Properties
