Howabout a DIY atomic clock?

[CheffDeGaar]

Much less fun than dealing with atomic transition levels but...

What about giving it a try ?

The cheapest one so far...

😎

 

[Duo]

This is quite interesting, however, what I am after is to have a real atomic standard in my house. I don't want to rely on any outside means to have an accurate clock.

I know the that 8616A would not be an accurate clock standard, but it could be used in the experimentation of designing a good system.

 

[SY]

Actually, a serious question: it is not clear to me whether you're after accuracy, relative accuracy, or precision. IOW, do you really care whether it's exactly 06:00:04.239875432314159265358979, or are you interested in pulses that are exactly 1.000000000000000000000000 sec apart? Or is it most important that the interval be insanely consistent, but it doesn't matter if that interval is 1.00000000000000000000 or 1.00000000000000000001 second, as long as it's exactly the same each time?

 

[Serow]

I have a design for a fusion-powered clock that you can build for yourself.

I'm sorry SY, but I just had to do this:

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

Eric

 

[SY]

Hah!

 

[Duo]

SY, good question: I'm mostly after precision timing. Accurate timing interval. I want it to be best at staying in time with whatever I set it to without drifting much.

I hope that clarifies what I'm getting to.

 

[Pjotr]

Hi,

Note, that since people are making clocks they seem to have no time anymore.

😎

 

[SY]

Well, that makes the problem considerably simpler. If you need absolute accuracy, little things like your altitude can throw that off.

I'd be looking at some sort of optical technology based on a monochromatic source of known frequency- like a laser. I'll think on it a bit, but I'll bet with a little searching, you'll find someone who's already doing that.

 

[Duo]

SY: Yeah, that's basically what I'm after.

After searching for a bit, I think that an old rubidium standard could be had for not too big a price.

 

[jackinnj]

This is quite interesting, however, what I am after is to have a real atomic standard in my house. I don't want to rely on any outside means to have an accurate clock.

I have an atomic standard in my house too, and she always reminds me what I have failed to do and the timeliness thereof.

How about this cesium baby:

 

[nhbbobb]

this is cool idea,but have you get the rubidium lamp ?

 

[rcavictim]

I have an atomic standard in my house too, and she always reminds me what I have failed to do and the timeliness thereof.

How about this cesium baby:

I have an original sealed cesium beam tube from one of those old HP clocks in my vac toob collection. It's quite a large metal thing. I found a half dozen incomplete clocks in a scrapyard once and stripped them.