Can Quantum Mechanics Calculate the Frequency of an Atomic Clock?

In summary, the frequency 9192631770 Hz cannot be calculated using Quantum Mechanics as it is a defined value. Even if the calculation was possible, the input uncertainty would be too large due to the imprecise knowledge of the electron's mass. QM can calculate the energy levels of the doublet, but not with the necessary precision to match the defined frequency.
  • #1
Bruce Harvey
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TL;DR Summary
Can Quantum mechanics calculate the 9192631770 Hz frequency from first principles.
I have searched in vain for a detailed calculation of the frequency 9192631770 Hz from basic physical constants using Quantum Mechanics.
Can anyone help with this please
 
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  • #2
Bruce Harvey said:
Summary:: Can Quantum mechanics calculate the 9192631770 Hz frequency from first principles.

I have searched in vain for a detailed calculation of the frequency 9192631770 Hz from basic physical constants using Quantum Mechanics.
Can anyone help with this please
There is no such calculation. It is a definition. The second is a man-made quantity and could be any number of oscillations of the Caesium hyperfine transition. The BIPM picked a number and defined it thus.
 
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  • #3
Dale is right, it's a definition.

However, what you may have meant is if 9,192,631,770 was calculable using the pre-1967 definitions. The answer is still no. This is a 56-body problem and there is not even a classical solution for 3 bodies. It would have to be calculated numerically and that is well beyond today's generation of computers, and the next, and the one after that.

More fundamentally, the mass of the electron is known 10x worse than the number you are trying to calculate, so you will have an input uncertainty an order of magnitude too large. (If you could do the calculation, you could turn it around and use this to measure the electron's mass more precisely)
 
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  • #4
It is more than a number, it is a frequency corresponding to a coupling energy between the nuclear magnetic moment and the electron. Can QM calculate the energy levels of the doublet?
 
  • #5
Bruce Harvey said:
It is more than a number, it is a frequency corresponding to a coupling energy between the nuclear magnetic moment and the electron.
I can quite confidently say that everyone who replied in this thread understands this quite well.

Bruce Harvey said:
Can QM calculate the energy levels of the doublet?
Yes, but not at the level of precision needed to match exactly the number used in the definition of the second. See @Vanadium 50's answer above for the explanation as to why this is the case.
 
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1. What is an atomic clock?

An atomic clock is a type of clock that uses the natural oscillations of atoms to keep time. It is considered the most accurate timekeeping device in the world.

2. How does an atomic clock work?

An atomic clock works by measuring the frequency of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electrons in an atom. This frequency is extremely stable and can be used to keep time.

3. Why are atomic clocks important?

Atomic clocks are important because they provide the most accurate measurement of time, which is essential for a wide range of scientific, technological, and navigational applications. They are also used to synchronize global timekeeping systems.

4. How accurate are atomic clocks?

Atomic clocks are incredibly accurate, with an average deviation of only one second in 100 million years. The most advanced atomic clocks can even maintain accuracy to within one second in 15 billion years.

5. What is the significance of atomic clock theory?

Atomic clock theory is significant because it helps us understand the fundamental principles of timekeeping and the behavior of atoms. It has also led to the development of highly accurate timekeeping devices and has revolutionized various fields such as telecommunications, navigation, and space exploration.

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