The article points to a use I wouldn't have thought of.
The deeper you go into a gravitational field, the slower time goes. Therefore comparing clocks in different places gives a way to measure gravity. These clocks could be sufficiently precise to find mineral deposits underground from their gravity signature.
Magnetic anomalies also highlight inteesting places for minerals, the issue with both magnetic and gravity fields variations lies with determining the "true" depth to target (medium sized shallow target, or massive deep taget?) which is known as an inversion problem.
Most units of measurement are derived from the second, so the more precise our frequency standards, the more precise everything else can be. Things like interferometry and spectroscopy depend directly on very precise frequency standards.
btilly|1 year ago
The deeper you go into a gravitational field, the slower time goes. Therefore comparing clocks in different places gives a way to measure gravity. These clocks could be sufficiently precise to find mineral deposits underground from their gravity signature.
defrost|1 year ago
We've been doing that since the 1960s at least with such things as the LaCoste & Romberg gravimeter (1936).
You can download, see online the "Geoid"
https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_865074
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravimetry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoid
Magnetic anomalies also highlight inteesting places for minerals, the issue with both magnetic and gravity fields variations lies with determining the "true" depth to target (medium sized shallow target, or massive deep taget?) which is known as an inversion problem.
defrost|1 year ago
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28232645
Detecting gravity waves with large laser triangles required a few advances in technology - precision clocks was one.
Not so long ago had you asked your question the answer would have been "detect gravity waves".
fanf2|1 year ago