atomic clock
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An atomic clock is an extremely accurate reference clock that uses the vibrations of atoms to measure time with incredible precision. It matters because it serves as the standard for timekeeping worldwide, ensuring that everything from GPS systems to telecommunications networks can operate reliably and stay synchronized.
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Simplified block diagram of a typical commercial caesium beam frequency reference NIST physicists Steve Jefferts (foreground) and Tom Heavner with the NIST-F2 caesium fountain atomic clock, a civilian time standard for the United States The master atomic clock ensemble at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., which provides the time standard for the U.S. Department of Defense. The rack-mounted units in the background are HP 5071A caesium beam clocks. The black units in the foreground are Sigma-Tau MHM-2010 hydrogen maser standards. An atomic clock is a clock that measures time by monitoring the resonant frequency of atoms. It is based on the fact that atoms have quantised energy levels, and transitions between such levels are driven by very specific frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. This phenomenon serves as the basis for the SI definition of the second:
The second, symbol s, is the SI unit of time. It is defined by taking the fixed numerical value of the caesium frequency,