Measuring just two-by-two-inches square and less than an inch thick, the SA.3Xm atomic clock from Symmetricom is said to be the world’s smallest, five times smaller than other rubidium oscillators. It looks like a hunk of radioactive cheese.
Product Page [Symmetricom.com via Technabob]
Hmmm… this might actually point to a solution to a problem where I’m working now. I’m a software guy not a hardware guy, but I’ve been overhearing their discussions. If you’re dealing with trying to accurately measure and calibrate oscillators in the GHz range for technical measurement hardware, apparently you’ve got a big problem with 1) inherent imprecision in your oscillator frequencies, 2) drift, and 3) figuring out what to calibrate against. If it’s possible to get a rubidium atomic oscillator this small… wow. I think I’ll mail the hardware guys this link.
Great technology.
A lot of new atomic clocks are coming out that are SMALL and even some nice trendy ones.
Check some out at Atomic Clocks.com !!
But what about atomic watches?