Optical clock

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An optical clock is a clock that uses light to track time. It differs from an atomic clock in that it uses visible light, rather than microwaves.^[1][2] Several chemical elements have been studied for possible use in optical clocks. These include aluminum, mercury, strontium, indium, magnesium, calcium, ytterbium, and thorium. The concept of an optical clock originated with John L. Hall and Theodor W. Hansch, who together won the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physics.