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0:00 Does gravity obey the rules of quantum mechanics?
2:40 How does an atomic clock work?
6:06 Why Optical Atomic Clocks Are So Accurate
8:51 Using Lasers To Cool Atoms Down
13:47 Driving an atomic clock up a mountain
17:01 Linking Atomic Clocks Across 80 Kilometres
19:00 Flying an Atomic Clock in a Helicopter
25:11 How Do You Measure the Frequency of Light?
28:40 Optical Frequency Combs
30:42 Is Einstein Still Right?
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With special thanks to the experts and collaborators who made this video possible:
In order of appearance, Prof. Jonathan Oppenheim (University College London), Greg Hoth (NIST), Dr. Andrew Ludlow (NIST), Dr. Laura Sinclair (NIST), Dr. Harikesh Ranganath (NIST), Lilani Toms-Hardman (University of Western Australia), Prof. Sascha Schediwy (University of Western Australia), Dr Sabrina Slimani (University of Western Australia), Dr Benjamin Dix-Matthews (University of Western Australia).
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the University of Denver and the Meyer-Womble Observatory, the University of Western Australia and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, RIKEN and the University of Tokyo. In addition, to the Precision Measurement Group (PMG) in the Institute for Photonics, Advanced Sensing and Quantum Technologies (IPAS-QT) at Adelaide University who provided the two portable atomic clocks used in the UWA test. https://ve42.co/AdelaideUniversityPrecisionMeasurementGroup
In the production of this video, Rebecca Jacobson, Dr. Emily Caldwell, Dr. Kyle Latty (NIST), Nicholas Kurth, University of Colorado (Boulder), Dr. Bryn Crawford (Adelaide University), Prof. Hidetoshi Katori, A/Prof. Kai Suekane, Dr. Shota Yo and Dr. Hiutat Yang (RIKEN & University of Tokyo).
In additional research and review, Prof. David Kaiser (MIT), Prof. Scott Diddams (University of Colorado Boulder), Prof. Claudia de Rham (Imperial College London), Prof. Steven Cundiff (University of Michigan) and Dr. Derek van Westrum (NOAA National Geodetic Survey).
For their support with archive footage, the NIST Archive, Prof. Jun Ye (NIST/JILA) and Brent Doerzman.
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References: https://ve42.co/AtomicClockReferences
For more information on the dipole trap: https://ve42.co/HBDDipole
MIT Open Access Course: https://ve42.co/FreeLecturesHere
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Special thanks to our Patreon supporters:
Adam Foreman, Albert Wenger, Alex Porter, Alexander Tamas, André Powell, Anton Ragin, Balkrishna Heroor, Bertrand Serlet, Blake Byers, Bruce, Bryan Ackermann, Chris Brewer, Data Don, Dave Kircher, David Johnston, David Tseng, EJ Alexandra, Evgeny Skvortsov, Garrett Mueller, Gnare, gpoly, Hayden Christensen, Hong Thai Le, Hybrid Minds, Ibby Hadeed, Jeromy Johnson, Juan Benet, Kelcey Steele, KeyWestr, Kyi, Lee Redden, Marinus Kuivenhoven, Mark Heising, Martin Paull, Meekay, meg noah, Michael Krugman, Orlando Bassotto, Parsee Health, Paul Peijzel, Robson, Sam Lutfi, Shalva Bukia, Sinan Taifour, Sweet_Nemo, Tj Steyn, Ubiquity Ventures, wolfee, Burt Humburg, Sanome, Ulf Hermjakob
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Credits
Writers: Sarah Houlton, Gregor Čavlović, Emilia Gyles
Producer and Director: Sarah Houlton
Presenters: Gregor Čavlović and Emilia Gyles
Editor: Peter Nelson
Additional Editing: James Stuart and Trenton Oliver
Animators: Alex Drakoulis, Andrew Neet, Domonkos Józsa, Emma Wright and Fabio Albertelli
Researchers: Sophia Rose and Gabe Strong
Camera Operators: James Chance, Jesse Bartlett, Sarah Houlton, Gregor Čavlović and Emilia Gyles
Thumbnail Designers: Abdallah Rabah, Daniel Ellacott and Jakub Misiek
Production Team: Anna Milkovic, Glen Griffiths, Jess Bishop-Laggett, Matthew Cavanagh
Executive Producers: Gregor Čavlović, Emilia Gyles and Derek Muller
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So what I learned from this video is that lasers can be used to cool atoms down, which means that freeze rays can be created, and I can finally become a super villain
Einstein... keeping scientists busy since 1915.
Imagine working here and being a billionth of a second late for work.
"Cooling down atoms with lasers to a millionth of a degree above absolute zero, while simultaneously trapping the aforementioned floating atoms in one spot, all to measure time so accurately we may change the understanding of gravity" is not something I was prepared to hear today. Science is freakin' amazing. This is exactly why I'm not ashamed to be called a nerd. Actually quite proud of it.
"The clock built to prove Einstein wrong." *Proves Einstein right*
Somewhat clickbait: So far, in the team's words, there's "no evidence that says no" to Einstein, but they're still crunching the data, and the next goal is a clock link to space.
Einstein: And where did that get you? Back to me
I’m a Physics PhD student in one of the collaborating labs in Boulder. Really surreal to see what I have heard updates on in meetings turn into a Veritasium video!!
23:20 Wow. In 1987, after working an overnight in the computer lab for our IT310 graphics project, I climbed the stairs of the UWA Physics building and stood on the roof to watch the sunrise. Back then, the door was not locked. It has nothing to do with lasers, helicopters, or time... but it sort of does. The sunrise and sunset were humans' first measurements of time. Seeing the roof again triggered memories from nearly 40 years ago.
I've personally invented an anti gravity machine. It's a machine that prints signs that say "I hate gravity".
Einsteins law: Every experiment to prove me wrong, will fundamentally and automatically prove me right
This video showed me that I spend far too much time watching videos that highlight the negative side of humanity rather than the spectacular side. The sheer brilliance of human minds when they are set on feats of groundbreaking engineering and discovery. Engineering solutions to things that might seem impossible due to our limitations are only so until those limitations are removed. I just wish all of mankind was hyper focused on this part of the human experience. Thanks, Veritasium, for reminding me once again that we are more than billions of individuals in conflict with one another. We are human beings determined to truly understand our very existence. Groktronix is my choice 💯
I just realised, if i want to tell someone who is absolutely out of touch, how an atomic clock works (not scientifically, just casually) i need to tell them at least 4 entirely different stories about 4 scientific areas, before i start to speak about clocks and how lasers are involved. Science is fascinating.
the animations are so intuitive, it's actually insane how much it helps over just voice overs
I'd heard of laser cooling before, but never understood how it works until this video. You guys are still doing such a great job at explaining science so many years into thr channel
Oppenheim is an incredible name for a physicist
i feel like neanderthal being shown running water from a tap for the first time when i watch videos like this.
So what I learned from this video is that lasers can be used to cool atoms down, meaning that freeze rays can be made, and I can finally become a super villain
Providing subtitles for the Aussie guy is wild!