Oct 19 2015
An advanced atomic clock will neither gain nor lose a single second over the lifespan of the universe. Why does such incredible precision matter? On Nov. 4, join Nobel Laureate David Wineland as he discusses how atomic clocks – including an emerging breed of laser-based optical clocks – may enable revolutionary new technologies, including ultra-powerful quantum computers.
Wineland’s lecture, titled “Keeping Better Time: The Era of Optical Atomic Clocks,” is part of the Perimeter Institute Public Lecture Series, and will be webcast live Nov. 4 at 7 PM EST on the Perimeter Institute website and via partner organizations.
A co-winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics, Wineland has been a member of the Time and Frequency Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) since 1975, where he is a group leader and NIST Fellow. The long-held goal of his research is to increase the precision of atomic spectroscopy – the measurement of the frequencies of atoms’ characteristic vibrations.
Following his talk, Wineland will answer audience questions from the online and in-house audience – including questions submitted prior to and during the talk via Facebook and Twitter (using the hashtag #piLIVE). Questions are welcomed from everyone – aspiring scientific explorers, school classes, physics buffs, and general science enthusiasts.