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

The new NIST clock records set three important measures: systematic uncertainty, stability, and reproducibility. The clocks' total error drops below our general ability to account for gravity's effect on time here on Earth. This achievement enables the detection of faint signals from the early universe and perhaps dark matter.

JILA researchers see signs of interactive form of quantum matter

Researchers have isolated groups of a few atoms and precisely measured their multi-particle interactions within an atomic clock. The study reveals unexpected results when three or more atoms are together, including nonlinear shifts in the clock's frequency and long-lived entangled states.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Neglected atom has top properties for atomic clocks

Researchers propose lutetium as a superior element for atomic clocks, offering lower sensitivity to temperature. This could lead to more accurate and stable timekeeping, with potential applications in fundamental physics and global positioning systems.

En route to the optical nuclear clock

Researchers at PTB have successfully measured some important properties of the thorium-229 nucleus using optical methods, bringing scientists closer to developing an optical nuclear clock. This breakthrough uses laser excitation to monitor the nucleus's behavior and could lead to a more precise atomic clock.

Months-long real-time generation of a time scale based on an optical clock

Researchers at NICT Space-Time Standards Laboratory demonstrate a novel time scale generation method combining an optical lattice clock with a hydrogen maser. The resultant signal continued for half a year without interruption, outperforming Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and TT(BIPM) in terms of accuracy.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Transportable optical clock used to measure gravitation for the first time

Researchers use a transportable optical atomic clock to measure gravitation for the first time, with potential applications in monitoring continental height changes and improving national height systems. The technique has the potential to resolve height differences as small as 1 cm across the Earth's surface.

A new architecture for miniaturization of atomic clocks

A new architecture miniaturizes atomic clocks using piezoelectric thin film vibration, achieving 30% reduction in chip area and 50% reduction in power consumption. The technology enables high-end frequency standards to be incorporated into wireless devices like smartphones.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Transportable laser

PTB physicists have developed a frequency-doubling unit that can endure transportation and maintain accuracy. The unit is based on a highly stable monolithic enhancement cavity for second harmonic generation, enabling reliable laser light for quantum-optical experiments.

One step closer to defining dark matter, GPS satellite atomic clocks on the hunt

Researchers from University of Nevada, Reno used GPS satellites to search for dark matter clumps in the shape of walls or bubbles extending far beyond the solar system. The team found no evidence but ruled out a vast region of possibilities for this type of dark matter model, bringing them closer to defining its nature and composition.

JILA's 3-D quantum gas atomic clock offers new dimensions in measurement

JILA physicists have created an entirely new design for an atomic clock, packing strontium atoms into a tiny 3-D cube at 1,000 times the density of previous clocks. This approach enables a globally interacting collection of atoms to constrain collisions and improve measurements, leading to higher precision.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

The sharpest laser in the world

Researchers from PTB and JILA develop a laser with an unprecedented 10 mHz linewidth, setting a new world record. The precision of the laser allows for accurate measurements in optical atomic clocks and spectroscopy.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

NIST debuts dual atomic clock -- and a new stability record

Physicists at NIST have combined two experimental atomic clocks based on ytterbium atoms to set a new world record for clock stability. The dual-clock design eliminates dead time and noise, resulting in a more powerful tool for precision tests and applications.

Optical clock technology tested in space for first time

Researchers successfully tested an optical clock in space, demonstrating its potential to improve GPS accuracy and enable global sensing applications. The compact frequency comb laser system operated smoothly under microgravity conditions, paving the way for future space-based precision clocks.

Converting optical frequencies with 10^(-21) uncertainty

Researchers have developed an optical frequency divider with unprecedented precision, enabling arbitrary optical frequency conversions. This breakthrough paves the way for improved applications in optics, metrology, and atomic physics.

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Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

JILA's superradiant laser may one day boost atomic clocks

The superradiant laser uses synchronized emissions of light from strontium atoms to improve atomic clock performance and create precise 'rulers' for space science. The laser's output is expected to be less sensitive to noise, making it sharper as a precision tool.

Synchronizing optical clocks to one quadrillionth of a second

A team of researchers has successfully demonstrated the synchronization of optical clocks across a low-lying, strongly turbulent, 12-km horizontal air path using a frequency comb. They achieved femtosecond-level clock synchronization by measuring the arrival time of pulses at each site and correcting for the finite speed of light.

Could optical clocks redefine the length of a second?

Optical atomic clocks have shown improved accuracy and stability compared to traditional microwave clocks, making them suitable for global timekeeping. By combining optical clocks with masers, researchers achieved a time error of less than 0.20 nanoseconds over 25 days.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

NIST's Internet Time Service serves the world

The NIST Internet Time Service serves much of the world, receiving 316 million unique IP address requests from 20 servers in one month. This represents at least 8.5 percent of devices on the entire internet, highlighting its importance as a reliable source of time.

More measurement precision in a short time

Researchers at PTB have developed an optical lattice clock with neutral strontium atoms, achieving the best stability worldwide thanks to a newly designed laser system. The clock has reached a fractional frequency instability of 8 E-17 and attains the quantum projection noise limit with as few as 130 atoms.

The most accurate optical single-ion clock worldwide

Scientists from PTB reduce the measurement uncertainty of their ytterbium clock to 3 E-18, exceeding predictions by Hans Dehmelt in 1981. The achievement showcases the accuracy and stability of optical atomic clocks.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Getting better all the time: JILA strontium atomic clock sets new records

The JILA strontium atomic clock has achieved unprecedented precision and stability levels, outperforming previous world records by more than three times. This breakthrough enables the measurement of tiny changes in time and gravity, with applications in advanced communications, positioning technologies, and relativistic geodesy.

Thousands of atoms entangled with a single photon

Researchers at MIT have developed a technique to entangle 3,000 atoms using a single photon, promising improved accuracy in atomic clocks. This breakthrough could lead to more precise timekeeping and potentially overcome the standard quantum limit.

Quantum mechanic frequency filter for atomic clocks

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a method that reduces the noise in atomic clocks, enabling them to be even more precise. The new technique uses a quantum frequency filter to sort out unwanted wavelengths of light, resulting in a laser beam that is much more stable and precise.

Top-precision optical atomic clock starts ticking

The newly developed optical atomic clock boasts extraordinary precision, with an error of less than one second in tens of millions of years. The clock's stability is ensured by advanced physical mechanisms, allowing it to maintain accuracy over extended periods.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

A centimeter of time: Cool clocks pave the way to new measurements of the earth

Researchers developed two cryogenically cooled optical lattice clocks that can synchronize to a one part in 2.0 x 10^-18, nearly 1,000 times more precise than current international timekeeping standard. This precision could enable clock-based geodesy and measure the strength of gravitational potential at different locations.

The fundamental constants are still constant

Researchers at PTB compared caesium and ytterbium atomic clocks, finding no detectable change in the mass ratio of protons to electrons up to a relative uncertainty of one part in ten million per year. This suggests fundamental constants remain stable over long periods.

Atomic timekeeping, on the go

Researchers at MIT and Draper Laboratory have developed a new atomic timekeeping approach that could enable more stable and accurate portable atomic clocks. The system suppresses the AC Stark shift effect, allowing for smaller, less expensive devices with improved accuracy compared to current fountain clocks.

JILA team finds first direct evidence of 'spin symmetry' in atoms

Researchers at JILA have confirmed the presence of spin symmetry in strontium atoms, which could lead to breakthroughs in simulating exotic materials and understanding quantum phenomena like superconductivity. The discovery was made possible by an ultra-stable atomic clock, allowing for precise measurements of atom interactions.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

'Comb on a chip' powers new NIST/Caltech atomic clock design

Researchers from NIST and Caltech have created an atomic clock using a microcomb, enabling precise frequency control and conversion to microwave frequencies. The new design has the potential to be integrated into portable tools for calibrating telecommunications systems and improving radar navigation and scientific instruments.

Highly charged ions

A new theoretical study by Marianna Safronova and colleagues identifies 10 highly charged ions, including samarium-14+ and neodymium-10+, suitable for atomic timekeeping and quantum information schemes. The researchers provide estimates of ion properties needed for experiments, enabling the development of more accurate clocks and qubits.

NIST launches a new US time standard: NIST-F2 atomic clock

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has launched NIST-F2, an atomic clock that is three times more accurate than its predecessor, NIST-F1. The new clock will help improve technology innovations in fields like cellular telephones, GPS satellite receivers, and the electric power grid.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Measuring height by connecting clocks

Researchers from Garching and Braunschweig transport frequencies with high precision over almost 2000 km to accurately determine the geoid of the Earth. The new technology allows for a height difference of 4 mm between clocks to be resolved within 100 seconds.

NIST ytterbium atomic clocks set record for stability

The NIST ytterbium atomic clocks have achieved a new record for stability, with an error rate of less than two parts in 1 quintillion. This breakthrough has significant implications for timekeeping and sensor applications, enabling rapid measurements in real-time.

JILA researchers discover atomic clock can simulate quantum magnetism

Researchers at JILA have discovered that an atomic clock can mimic the behavior of complex quantum systems, including high-temperature superconductors. The study's findings suggest that atoms in the clock interact like those in magnetic materials, leading to correlations and entanglement.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

A rock is a clock: Physicist uses matter to tell time

Holger Müller's Compton clock measures time using the oscillations of a cesium atom's matter wave, which has a frequency 10 billion times higher than visible light. The clock is accurate to within 7 parts per billion and could potentially rival atomic clocks with further improvements.

Quantum thermodynamics

Researchers found that blackbody radiation shifts caused by surrounding chamber temperature can impose limits on atomic clock precision. The study, led by Charles Clark and Marianna Safronova, explores how ytterbium atoms are affected by this faint form of influence, crucial for future clock recalibrations.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Surveying Earth's interior with atomic clocks

Scientists propose using ultraprecise atomic clocks to directly measure the Earth's true physical form, the geoid, which is currently determined indirectly through satellite tracking. This method has the potential to map the interior of the Earth to great depths, enabling more accurate exploration and discovery of subsurface structures.

The most stable laser in the world

Researchers develop new silicon resonator for ultra-stable laser, enabling narrower optical absorption lines and better optical atomic clocks. The stability of the laser is critical for these applications.

Redefining time

Researchers successfully sent highly accurate clock signals across hundreds of kilometers using optical fiber links, overcoming challenges to transmit stable signals over long distances. The achievement brings scientists closer to redefining the second and enabling ultra-precise navigation and other applications.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Atomic clock comparison via data highways

A team of researchers has demonstrated an optical frequency transfer with high stability through a standard telecommunication optical fiber network. This achievement enables the ability to compare optical clocks located far apart and transmit their stability to distant laboratories, benefiting fundamental research in physics and industry.

New 'pendulum' for the Ytterbium clock

Researchers at PTB have successfully excited a quantum-mechanically strongly forbidden transition in a ytterbium ion, allowing for an optical clock with unprecedented accuracy. The resulting clock is exact to 17 digits after the decimal point, and the relative uncertainty of the Yb+ frequency was determined with 7 • 10-17.

Proposed nuclear clock may keep time with the universe

A proposed new time-keeping system based on a neutron's orbit around an atomic nucleus could achieve unprecedented accuracy. This approach would allow scientists to test fundamental physical theories at higher precision and explore diverse applications.

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Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Precision time: A matter of atoms, clocks, and statistics

To achieve accurate measurements, an ensemble of 400 atomic clocks is required. The researcher uses statistical calculations to counter challenges in distributing data without degrading clock performance. These algorithms rely on understanding past accuracy to establish reliable reference times.

New record for measurement of atomic lifetime

Researchers have measured the lifetime of an extremely stable energy level of magnesium atoms with great precision, achieving a record-breaking 2050 seconds. This is the longest lifetime ever measured in a laboratory and has significant implications for the development of ultra-precise atomic clocks.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Drive test: NIST super-stable laser shines in minivan experiment

Physicists at NIST have demonstrated a super-stable laser operating in a minivan, showing its potential for field use in geodesy, hydrology and space-based physics experiments. The laser was tested with the vehicle stationary and moving at speeds of less than 1 meter per second, remaining stable enough for some applications.

World's smallest atomic clock on sale

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a tiny atomic clock that is 100 times smaller and uses 100 times less power than its predecessors. The portable Chip Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC) has various specialized applications, including timing operations for miners and divers in deep-sea explorations.