Physicists Are On the Brink of Redefining Time
?s=21
Thomas Reich
@gollum1419_g
Physicists Are On the Brink of Redefining Time
@inversedotcom
Physicists are on the brink of redefining time
inverse.com
https://t.co/fMv8KOoBBl?amp=1
Snip
WHATS NEW Previous attempts to measure these minute differences between how atoms keep time also referred to the ratio between them had only ever delivered an accuracy of up to 17 digits.
But now using their new model, which includes the first-ever use of a free-space link for this purpose (essentially, laser pulses of data going through the air instead of a cable,) the University of Colorado's BACON team (Boulder Atomic Clock Optical Network) has now measured this ratio reliably out to 18 digits.
WHY IT MATTERS One digit might not make or break a grade on your final exam or even your credit score, but for extremely tiny measurements in physics, this is a big deal...
Such frequency-ratio measurements are no mean feat, and are equivalent to determining the distance from Earth to the Moon to within a few nanometres, says Godun in the essay.
Lots more at link