[time-nuts] Atomic clocks - Why alkali metals?

J. Forster jfor at quikus.com
Sat Oct 29 19:55:48 UTC 2011


> Ammonia was the first clock wasn't it?

I think it was an amplifier, not an oscillator. Microwave Amplification by
Stimulated Emission of Radiation = MASER.

> Potentially Na and K have reactive behaviors like catching on fire that
> isn't attractive to a manufacturing process.

Rb and Cs are even more reactive than Na or K.

-John

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