Physicists Are On the Brink of Redefining Time

[soothsayer]

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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

WHAT’S 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

[Javaman]

1. wait one second there! oh wait...sorry. nt