CäsiumOszillatoren

CäsiumOszillatoren, often referred to as cesium oscillators, are a type of atomic clock that utilizes the energy transition of cesium atoms to generate highly accurate timekeeping signals. The fundamental principle behind their operation is the specific frequency of microwave radiation required to induce a transition between two hyperfine energy levels of the cesium-133 atom's ground state. This frequency, defined as exactly 9,192,631,770 Hertz, serves as the basis for the definition of the second.

A cesium oscillator typically consists of a cesium beam tube, a microwave cavity, and electronic components for generating and detecting the microwave frequency. Cesium atoms are heated and then passed through a vacuum tube, where they are exposed to a magnetic field that separates them based on their energy states. As the atoms pass through the microwave cavity, they absorb energy at the resonant frequency, causing a change in their state. Detectors measure the number of atoms that have transitioned, and a feedback loop adjusts the microwave frequency until the absorption is maximized, thus locking onto the precise cesium frequency.

The accuracy and stability of cesium oscillators are exceptional, making them the primary standard for time and frequency dissemination worldwide. They are crucial for a wide range of applications, including global positioning systems (GPS), telecommunications networks, scientific research, and navigation. While more advanced atomic clocks like optical clocks have achieved even higher precision, cesium clocks remain a cornerstone of modern timekeeping due to their reliability, robustness, and established infrastructure.