NIST atomic clocks now keep time well enough to improve models of Earth

[Jim__]

From phys.org:

Experimental atomic clocks at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have achieved three new performance records, now ticking precisely enough to not only improve timekeeping and navigation, but also detect faint signals from gravity, the early universe and perhaps even dark matter.

The clocks each trap a thousand ytterbium atoms in optical lattices, grids made of laser beams. The atoms tick by vibrating or switching between two energy levels. By comparing two independent clocks, NIST physicists achieved record performance in three important measures: systematic uncertainty, stability and reproducibility.

...

"This is especially true because the demonstrated reproducibility shows that the clocks' total error drops below our general ability to account for gravity's effect on time here on Earth. Hence, as we envision clocks like these being used around the country or world, their relative performance would be, for the first time, limited by Earth's gravitational effects."

...

While these so-called redshifts degrade a clock's timekeeping, this same sensitivity can be turned on its head to exquisitely measure gravity. Super-sensitive clocks can map the gravitational distortion of space-time more precisely than ever. Applications include relativistic geodesy, which measures the Earth's gravitational shape, and detecting signals from the early universe such as gravitational waves and perhaps even as-yet-unexplained "dark matter."


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[Wounded Bear]

1. I spent many years working in Time and Frequency...

working on atomic oscillators and clocks.

Interesting stuff. Thanks!