Atomic Clocks: an interactive info-graphic
This project attempts to visualise the physics behind the feedback loop that is fundamental to atomic clocks providing us (humans) with a highly accurate measure of time. We rely on atomic clocks every day, across all industry sectors that require networking of devices and time-reliant coordination. An example that highlights the importance of having a consistently accurate measure of time is GPS, where tiny errors in time can cause a drastic error in geographical position.
Atomic clocks have an oscillator (a device that generates electromagnetic waves) that is constantly firing an electromagnetic signal at a frequency of 9 192 631 770 Hz into a continuous beam of cesium 133 atoms, produced by a cesium oven. After passing through the electromagnetic signal, a detector counts the number of cesium 133 atoms that have undergone a hyperfine (very small) interaction, where the atoms become excited and reach a higher energy state. When 9 192 631 770 cesium atoms at a higher energy state have been detected, one second is defined (known as the Cesium Standard), and the counter resets.
The detector and oscillator are linked so that the occurrence of hyperfine interactions is directly related to the frequency causing this number of occurrences - this is the feedback loop.
The detector and oscillator are linked so that the occurrence of hyperfine interactions is directly related to the frequency causing this number of occurrences - this is the feedback loop.
With the time-modulator interface, you can slow down time to perceive 1 second as 4 seconds, in order to see the flow of the feedback loop. However, in reality slowing down time by a factor of 4 would have the corresponding frequency of 2 298 157 942.5 Hz, which is still too fast for the human eye to recognise. I have mapped the speed of the loop to be too fast to perceive when time is normal (1 second as 1 second), and when the user slows down time using the time-modulator interface, at a speed that allows the loop to be perceived by humans - this speed is not true to the maths but is suited to the function of visualising the feedback loop.
The orange wire blinks at a rate of between 1 second and 4 seconds, in relation to the position of the time-modulator, providing a visual measure of altering relative time.
The orange wire blinks at a rate of between 1 second and 4 seconds, in relation to the position of the time-modulator, providing a visual measure of altering relative time.
A flaw in my current design is that it requires me to either write this or stand by the object in order to clearly explain. A future version would ideally be self-explanatory as a standalone object.
Made using Arduino Leonardo, El Escudo Dos shield, EL Wire, a potentiometer and laser-engraved wood.
Sound design created with just the Vermona Mono Lancet analog synthesiser.