Atomic Clock |link| Info

: Atoms (such as cesium-133) are heated in an oven to create a gaseous beam.

: A detector counts the number of atoms that made the transition. An electronic system continuously adjusts the radiation frequency to maximize this count, "locking" the clock to the atom's perfect internal beat. atomic clock

: The atoms are bombarded with microwave or laser radiation tuned to their resonant frequency. : Atoms (such as cesium-133) are heated in

The official international second was redefined in 1967 as the duration of exactly of the radiation corresponding to the transition between two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the cesium-133 atom. New type of atomic clock keeps time even more precisely : The atoms are bombarded with microwave or

An atomic clock is a precision timekeeping device that uses the resonant frequencies of atoms—most commonly cesium, rubidium, or strontium—to measure the passage of time. These instruments are the world's most accurate timekeepers, with the most advanced models expected to maintain accuracy for periods exceeding the age of the universe. How Atomic Clocks Work

The fundamental "tick" of an atomic clock is provided by the natural vibrations of atoms, which oscillate at constant, universal frequencies. While a traditional clock might use a swinging pendulum or a vibrating quartz crystal, these human-made objects are inherently slightly different from one another and prone to drift. In contrast, every atom of a specific element is identical and resonates at exactly the same frequency regardless of location or time.

: Magnetic fields or lasers are used to isolate atoms in a specific low-energy state.