World’s First Nuclear Clock Unveiled, Promising Unmatched Precision And Advances In Space Exploration

An international research team recently presented the essential components of a device that could revolutionize how we measure time, use GPS, and explore space. While this is still a laboratory demonstration, not a fully operational nuclear clock, it includes all the necessary essential technology.

The paper was published in the journal Nature.

More Accurate Than Regular Clocks

Scientists believe that nuclear clocks could surpass the accuracy of today’s atomic clocks. These clocks are essential for setting international time and supporting technologies like GPS, internet synchronization, and financial transactions.

This advancement could lead to even more precise navigation systems, faster internet, more reliable network connections, and enhanced security for digital communications for the general public.

Nuclear Clock For Space Exploration

Beyond their impact on everyday technology, nuclear clocks could advance our understanding of the universe by improving tests of fundamental physics theories. They could help detect dark matter or confirm if natural constants stay the same. This may allow for testing particle physics theories without needing large particle accelerators.

Studying Gravity Via New Technology

The researchers stated that a nuclear clock would significantly outperform current technology in precision. This new type of atomic clock is so accurate that it would be less than a tenth of a second off after 14 billion years, potentially aiding scientists in studying how gravity affects time.

The key is that the laser light in a nuclear clock has a much higher frequency than that used in atomic clocks. This produces more “ticks” per second, enabling more precise timekeeping.

“Imagine a wristwatch that wouldn’t lose a second even if you left it running for billions of years,” said Jun Ye, one of the study’s authors. “While we’re not quite there yet, this research brings us closer to that level of precision.”

How Does A Nuclear Clock Work?

The clock operates by utilizing signals from an atom’s nucleus or core. The researchers used a specially made ultraviolet laser to accurately measure the frequency of an energy shift in thorium nuclei, a naturally occurring metal placed within a solid crystal. They also used an optical frequency comb, which functions like a highly precise light ruler, to count the number of ultraviolet wave cycles that cause this energy shift.

This rapid transition between similar energy levels is what enables such precise measurements.

Atomic clocks measure time using laser light to create specific frequencies that make electrons move between different energy levels.

However, unlike atomic clocks, where the electrons can be easily disturbed by stray electromagnetic fields, the parts inside a nuclear clock are much less affected by these outside factors.