[time-nuts] Never mind Thunderbolts...

[David Forbes]

Bruce Griffiths wrote:
> 
> The setup is reasonably straight forward to duplicate.
> However a pair of Helmholtz coils isnt optimum.
> 3 pairs would be better as it may not be convenient/possible to align
> the apparatus with the Earth's magnetic field,
> 
> There are coil arrangements that produce more uniform fields than
> Helmholtz coils.
> 
> It may be even more convenient to build ones own 795nm ECDL to replace
> the lamp.
> 
> Bruce

I look at this thing as a means of demonstrating the effects rather than as an 
actual timekeeping instrument. After all, it's aimed at student use. But it does 
lead one to dream about building a real Rb vapor cell timekeeping device that's 
all exposed.

Sure, the vapor cell would have to be temperature stabilized, and various other 
improvements would have to be made, and it wouldn't work really well.

But think of the geegaw appeal!

--David F