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68 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2020 Atomic clocks are used around the world to precisely tell time. Each "tick" of the clock depends on atomic vi- brations and their effects on surrounding electromagnet- ic fields. Newer atomic clocks that measure optical fre- quencies of light are even more precise, and may eventu- ally replace the radio-based ones. Now, researchers at Caltech and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which is managed by Caltech for NASA, have come up with a new design for an optical atom- ic clock that holds promise to be the most accurate and precise yet (accuracy refers to the ability of the clock to correctly pin down the time, and precision refers to its IPC and all their efforts to better the electronics industry. We will encourage all we encounter to embrace the IPC standards along with other or- ganizations and standards bodies in the elec- tronics community. It is our goal and hope to have a professional cooperative relationship. We truly wish IPC con- tinued success and seek to be professional ad- vocates. Respectfully (alphabetic order), Stephen Chavez Michael Creeden Kelly Dack Gary Ferrari Richard Hartley Luke Hausherr Cherie Liston Bob McCreight Scott McCurdy Susy Webb Professional Development and Events As we start the new year with excitement and anticipation for up and coming industry events regarding professional development opportunities, this section of the column will continue to list details of opportunities that will be available, such as IPC APEX EXPO, the Del Mar Electronics Show, DesignCon, PCB West, PCB Carolina, Realize LIVE, AltiumLive, etc., and CID and CID+ certification courses. If you have any local or regional industry event coming up in your area and would like to an- nounce it, please feel free to submit the details to be listed in an upcoming column. For 2020 CID and CID+ certification schedules and lo- cations, contact EPTAC to check current dates and availability (dates and locations are sub- ject to change). The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) is an international network of engi- neers, designers, and anyone related to print- ed circuit development. Its mission is to pro- mote printed circuit engineering as a profes- sion and to encourage, facilitate, and promote the exchange of information and integration of new design concepts through communica- tions, seminars, workshops, and professional certification through a network of local and re- gional PCEA association groups. DESIGN007 Stephen Chavez, MIT, CID+, is a Master Instructor of PCB Design for EPTAC, an SME in PCB design for a major aerospace corpora- tion, and is a member of the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA). To read past columns or contact Chavez, click here. ability to tell time in fine detail). Nicknamed the "twee- zer clock," it employs technology in which so-called laser tweezers are used to manipulate individual atoms. "This approach bridges two branches of physics—sin- gle-atom control techniques and precision measure- ment," says Ivaylo Madjarov, a Caltech graduate student and lead author of the new study. "We're pioneering a new platform for atomic clocks." Madjarov explains that, in general, the atoms in atomic clocks act like tuning forks to help stabilize the electro- magnetic frequencies, or laser light. The team says that the new system is ideally suited for future research into quantum technologies. The atoms in these systems can become entangled, or globally connected, and this entan- gled state can further stabilize the clock. (Source: Caltech) 'Tweezer Clock' May Help Tell Time More Precisely