Without being aware of it we are being run by the atomic clocks – practically. Whole GPS system relies very heavily on atomic clocks. Space travel is possible because of the precision atomic clocks, internet is synchronized on the basis of atomic clocks, yet the idea of an atomic clock is not new, as a matter of fact an atomic clock was postulated back in 1879.

The mechanism atomic clocks use is based on the vibrations that take place between positively charged atomic nucleus and negatively charged electron cloud, and the fact that a specific signal is given out by the atoms as they change their energy state.

A common fallacy about the atomic clocks is that they are based on the radiation emitted by the radioactive elements. This is however not true. The current definition of the unit of time that is second is also based on atomic clocks. Modern atomic clocks are so precise and accurate that a modern Cesium 133 clock is not expected lose its precision by more than a single second in one million years!

There are many types of atomic clocks. More popular ones are based on Cesium atoms, Hydrogen atoms and Rubidium atoms. As the research is progressing, many more elements are being tested for accuracy like Mercury Atoms and Ytterbium Atoms.

To construct a practical Cesium 133 clock, cesium is heated to make the atoms pass through a magnetic field. Magnetic field plays the trick of separating right type of atoms to be used.

In the near future, all our clocks would be replaced by super precise atomic clocks.

Atomic Clock