[time-nuts] NPR Story I heard this morning

xaos xaos at darksmile.net
Mon Nov 3 13:16:22 EST 2014


Why Strontium over Caesium?
Is it because it just sounds more hi-tech ? LOL

Maybe stupid question to most here, but I do
not know the answer.

-GKH
 
On 11/03/2014 12:59 PM, Chris Albertson wrote:
> On Mon, Nov 3, 2014 at 8:17 AM, xaos <xaos at darksmile.net> wrote:
>
>> Small correction: The numbers were 10E-16.
>>
> No I think it was "one part in 10E16" ;)   But the interesting thing was
> they used numbers rather then saying something like "really super ultra
> tiny".
>
> But you are right, no two clocks will ever agree at that level because they
> will experience different gravitational fields.  At this level the reason
> to have a clock is no longer to tell time.  It is to measure the
> gravitational field.  With an array of many clocks like these we might be
> able to map the density of the interior of the earth or detect black holes
> or who knows what.   I think it opens up a new area of observation.  When
> ever this happens we discover things we never would have thought of.  Maybe
> in 40 years these Strontium oscillators will be mass produced for $2 each.
>
> Does anyone know how much "g" changes per cm of altitude?  I'm to lazy to
> figure it out.
>
>
>
>> One important concept that was discussed was this:
>> If the next generation clock was even more accurate
>> (maybe by an order or two), then no two clocks
>> can ever agree on the time.
>>
>> Minute changes in gravity and other factors will
>> always make each clock completely different.
>>
>> So, to that I said: WOW! Wait just a damn minute.
>> I got into this so I can tell time precisely. Now I'm back
>> to to the beginning.
>>
>> I know I am exaggerating a bit here but still.
>>
>> -GKH
>>
>> On 11/03/2014 11:09 AM, Chris Albertson wrote:
>>> Yes,  A story about time and frequency standards.  They actually used
>>> numbers like 10E16 in the story.  Apparently at that level your clock can
>>> measure a change in elevation of a few centimeters because of the
>>> relativistic effects of the reduced gravity field in just a few cm.
>>>
>>> On Mon, Nov 3, 2014 at 6:28 AM, xaos <xaos at darksmile.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> This morning, as I was driving to work,
>>>> I heard this really cool story on NPR radio here in NYC.
>>>>
>>>> This is the link to the story:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>> http://www.npr.org/2014/11/03/361069820/what-time-is-it-it-depends-where-you-are-in-the-universe
>>>> What a nice way to start the week.
>>>>
>>>> Past stories with similar headlines.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>> http://www.npr.org/2014/01/24/265247930/tickety-tock-an-even-more-accurate-atomic-clock
>>>> Cheers,
>>>>
>>>> George Hrysanthopoulos, N2FGX
>>>>
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