NIST physicists have developed a compact atomic clock design using cold rubidium atoms, promising improved precision and stability compared to existing hot-atom clocks. The prototype clock, about the size of a coffee mug, could be miniaturized to match the size of a matchbox while achieving 1,000 times greater precision over crucial time spans.
The new cold-atom clock eliminates errors caused by high-pressure gases by holding atoms in a vacuum chamber and cooling them with lasers. This design could extend the use of small, low-power clocks to exacting applications like synchronizing telecommunications networks.
NIST researchers are already working on the next version of the cold-atom clock, aiming to reduce its size and improve performance through magnetic shielding and antireflection coating. The research is funded in part by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
Keywords: precision, stability, rubidium, lasers, atomic
