NIST physicists have developed a new ultra-stable atomic clock using ytterbium atoms, achieving a stability record 10 times better than previous clocks. The “double clock” design eliminates a small laser frequency distortion that limited stability, allowing the clock to reach 1.5 parts in a quintillion instability in just a few thousand seconds.
The double-clock design probes two separate atomic ensembles continuously, combining their measurements to produce a single, more stable correction. This approach reduces clock size and complexity, potentially enabling portable clocks for applications like relativistic geodesy and space-based tests of general relativity.
The new clock is the most stable ever created, with performance now limited by the atomic system rather than the laser. This breakthrough could lead to smaller, more practical atomic clocks for various scientific and commercial applications.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2016/11/nist-debuts-dual-atomic-clock-and-new-stability-record
Keywords: Atomic, Clock, Stability, Precision, Lattice
