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The outer electron of a Cesium-133 atom reverses its direction of spin when exposed to microwave radiation of precisely 9.19263177 GHz, which is the basis of the atomic clock. But what happens if the frequency is off slightly? What if it's a Hertz or two too high or too low? How does the atom react?

by /u/TiberiusClegane in /r/askscience

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