The atomic clock is the most accurate clock in the world. It works by electronically measuring the vibrations of atoms. Because atoms vibrate at a regular frequency, measuring time this way is even more accurate than the rotation of the earth. Atomic Clock Time - known as UTC - has, in fact, replaced Greenwich Mean Time as the global time standard.
The first atomic clock was created in 1949 using ideas and techniques developed by Isidor Rabi, Professor of Physics at Columbia University . Interestingly, Professor Rabi, a Nobel Prize winner, chose not to follow up the development of his idea. One of his students, Norman Ramsay, did continue to research it and, in 1989, was himself awarded the Nobel Prize for his work,
The American National Bureau of Standards - now the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - continued to develop the atomic clock when, in 1999, it was shown to have an accuracy to around one second in twenty million years.
Using radio-controlled technology, personal and household timepieces can now utilise atomic clock accuracy. By tuning in to the US Atomic Clock, located at Fort Collins , Colorado , the clocks set themselves to "atomic clock sync".
Radio-controlled atomic alarm clocks may wake us in the morning. We can stroll to the kitchen, glancing at the Seiko atomic wall clock as we slurp our first coffee of the day and check our makeup in the mirror on the atomic floor clock as we scurry out the door. On our wrist we may wear a stylish and shiny atomic wristwatch, calibrated to any one of twenty-four time zones.
When we arrive at our workplace, the PC on our desk beeps a reminder of a meeting in thirty minutes atomic time. We remain in atomic clock sync until Friday night when it doesn't really matter for a couple of days.
Or does it?
Plan on making any telephone calls over the weekend? Generally, telephone signals are digitally transmitted. This means that several conversations between the same two cities can use the same wires as long as the computers at both ends switch from one connection to another at thousands of times per second.
If the clocks that control the two telephone exchanges get out of time with each other, the connections get messed up and we have crossed wires and total confusion. Atomic clocks prevent this from happening and allow the telecommunication company bosses to breathe a little easier.
And don't forget your Global Positioning System (GPS) if you're heading off for a camping trip. GPS uses atomic clocks in satellites above the earth as well as on the ground. Good to know that if you need to be found in a hurry, chances are you will be because of atomic clock synchronisation.
If you plan on catching the late movie on your digital television, it's likely that an atomic clock will be keeping that technology honest also.
Atomic clock technology is all around us nowadays, much of the time without us even knowing it. That being the case, there remains but one question..
Why don't the trains run on atomic time?
