NIST's Prototype Chip for Measuring Important Quantities Such as Length with Quantum Precision (IMAGE)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

NIST's Prototype Chip for Measuring Important Quantities Such as Length with Quantum Precision

Caption

NIST's prototype chip for measuring important quantities such as length with quantum precision. The device works by using a laser to probe atoms to generate infrared light at a precise wavelength. The NIST chip packs a tiny cloud of atoms and structures for guiding light waves into less than 1 square centimeter. The atoms are contained in a vapor cell--the square window on top of the chip, which is surrounded by black epoxy holding a fiber-optic array. The penny is a scale reference.

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Hummon/NIST

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