Ytterbium gains ground in quest for next-generation atomic clocks Aug 12, 2009
JILA is At this point it is far from clear which atom and clock design will be selected by research groups around the world as a future time and frequency standard. Advances in atomic clock performance support development of technologies such as high data rate telecommunications and the Global Positioning System (GPS). (EurekAlert!)
Betelgeuse, Red Supergiant In Constellation Orion, Has Shrunk By 15 Percent In 15 Years Jun 17, 2009
Using a laser as a common frequency standard, the ISI interferometer combines signals from telescope pairs in order to determine path length differences between light that originates at the star's center and light that originates at the star's edge. The technique of stellar interferometry is highlighted in the June 2009 issue of Physics Today magazine. (Science Daily)
New Clock Loses A Second In 300 Million Years Apr 17, 2009
This category of clocks includes NIST-F1, which is operated by NIST Boulder as the U.S. civilian time and frequency standard. In the case of bosons, variations in light-matter interactions would reduce (rather than increase) the probability of collisions. (Science Daily)