Atomic clocks are important because they set the standard for accurate timekeeping
. They are the device that makes sure a second is always roughly a second. This is an important aspect in the modern technological world.
Further, if regular wall clocks stopped and you needed to reset it, you look at another time telling device to know what time it is. Now, if there was no other clock or watch, how would you know what time it was? This is the question scientists have tried to answer over time because it is possible that at a point in time you may have only one time piece and if that needs to be reset, you do not have any other reference to set your time.
Atomic clocks answer these difficulties. The atomic clock is a highly accurate and independent timepiece. They are so accurate that Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and television broadcasts rely on their horological properties to function. They use oscillations between the nucleus of an atom and the neighboring electrons to work, hence their name.
There are three main types of atomic wall clocks.
Cesium clocks constantly emit cesium atoms to keep time. The mechanism employs magnetic field to separate cesium atoms of differing energy levels. This type is the most complex and accurate of all atomic clocks.
The Hydrogen atomic clocks keep time by housing hydrogen atoms in an enclosure and thus prevent them from escaping readily.
Rubidium clocks apply rubidium gas glass cell to control optical and microwave frequencies to keep time. The Rubidium is the simplest of all atomic clocks.
Atomic clocks are widely used by the military, aerospace industry and satellite companies to keep accurate, reliable and standard time. They can be set up once and left to work for tens of years without any adjustment or power rundown.