Editing Openai/6897769e-4ee4-800f-aba5-69cca34f701c (section)

==== - Using a simple, physically motivated spectral model, the spectrally averaged σ_eff for a single strong resonance is: - ~a few ×10⁻²² m² for room-temperature blackbody weighting (if resonance in visible), - ~a few ×10⁻²⁰ m² for Sun-like (5800 K) weighting (because the Planck peak overlaps the resonance). ====
* Multiplying by realistic interplanetary columns (∼5×10¹⁵ m⁻²) gives tiny δ (10⁻⁶ → 10⁻⁴ range depending on temperature/spectrum) — consistent with earlier conclusions that the QAT EM-layer contribution is small compared to GR but not astronomically tiny in some stellar environments.
* For laboratory scenarios, a realistic effective interacting column is the key unknown. If you choose a physically realistic N0 for a well-engineered optical cavity (very small), the predicted QAT tick-rate difference between 300 K and 4 K will be minuscule (likely below current detection thresholds). To get a measurable effect you'd need: - a very large effective column of resonant scatterers that actually couple to the clock's photon exchanges, or - a highly resonant spectral engineering (drive a strong narrowband field into the environment) to amplify the weighted σ_eff for the photons that the clock actually uses.