Atomic fountain
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An atomic fountain is a cloud of atoms that are tossed upwards by lasers in the Earth's gravitational field. If visible, it would resemble the water in a fountain. While weightless in the toss, the atoms are measured to set the frequency of an atomic clock. This eliminates the effects of the Earth's gravity on the frequency.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/clockworks.htm How the NIST-F1 Cesium Fountain Clock Works
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