Moin, Over the past years, i've read quite a bit on the different flavours of atomic clocks and how they are build. I found explenations for most questions i had, but for one thing: Why do all current designs (with the exception of trapped ion optical clocks) use alkali metals as reference? Is it because they can be aproximated as single electron systems due to the one electron in the valence orbit?
Related to this is the question why only H, Rb and Cs are used. Although, from my point of view there isnt anything that speaks against using Li, K or Na, these are not used at all. At least i couldnt find any papers or other documents describing frequency standards build on these elements. Attila Kinali -- It is upon moral qualities that a society is ultimately founded. All the prosperity and technological sophistication in the world is of no use without that foundation. -- Miss Matheson, The Diamond Age, Neil Stephenson _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.