[time-nuts] Cs tube pics

Magnus Danielson magnus at rubidium.dyndns.org
Wed Nov 2 22:34:12 UTC 2016


Poul-Henning,

On 11/02/2016 11:02 AM, Poul-Henning Kamp wrote:
> --------
> In message <20161102104103.0c58d35a72b7b36253b3d6b2 at kinali.ch>, Attila Kinali writes:
>
>> I still would like to try to build my own atomic clock at some point,
>> even if it would be a quite costly, and a many years project.
>
> If you like lasers, build an ion trap.
>
> If you only like lasers a little bit, build an optically pumped standard.
>
> If you *really* like lasers, build a fountain.
>
> If you are more chemically inclined, there are a ton of gasses you
> can work with, methane, amonia, CO2 etc.
>
> The one thing nobody has done or even tried yet, (as far as I know),
> is optically excite a solid crystal.

Actually, that's how lasers got started, by getting ruby crystals to 
laze, which really use the chromium dopant of sapphire:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_laser

Surely you know that.

Being able to utilize it for clock purposes is another thing.

NaCl crystal stable HeNe laser is used for meter standards, which is 
kind of associated.

I have not seen anyone optical excite atoms for microwave frequencies. I 
wonder if the chemical bonds can be prohibitive enough for meaningful use.

Cheers,
Magnus



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