Key Takeaways
- Scientists in Vienna and Beijing have independently created the world's first nuclear clocks.
- These clocks use thorium-229 atoms to measure time more accurately than conventional atomic clocks.
- The technology promises applications in satellite navigation and data synchronization.
Scientists in Vienna and Beijing have independently developed the world's first nuclear clocks, marking a significant advancement in timekeeping technology. The breakthrough, detailed in scientific papers published in the journal Nature, represents a new era in atomic clock precision.
The nuclear clocks operate by monitoring the interaction of high-powered lasers with the nucleus of thorium-229 atoms, trapped in solid-state calcium fluoride crystals. This method differs from conventional atomic clocks, which use lasers or microwaves to make electrons jump between energy levels in an atom’s shell.
Physicist Shiqian Ding of Tsinghua University, who helped lead the Beijing team, emphasized the robustness of the concept. 'The creation of a nuclear clock was something that physicists dreamt of for almost 50 years. In my team, we have been working towards this goal since 2008,' he said.
Thorsten Schumm of TU Wien, who led the Vienna team, envisions practical applications for nuclear clocks in satellite-based navigation, data synchronization, and metrology. 'The best conventional atomic clocks can go billions of years losing or gaining only one second. This ultra-accuracy has been vital for applications such as global navigation satellite systems and internet,' he noted.
While the nuclear clocks are still far from their target performance, Schumm highlighted the potential for improvement. 'The Vienna clock has slightly better thorium crystals — higher concentration, better optical properties — while the Beijing team has a stronger laser. So already by putting these components together, we can build a significantly better clock,' he explained.
The two teams worked independently and reached operating thorium-229 nuclear clocks at the same time, using different experimental approaches. 'The two teams worked independently and reached operating thorium-229 nuclear clocks at the same time, using different experimental approaches. I think this is very encouraging because it shows that the concept is robust and not dependent on one particular technical implementation,' Ding added.
The development of nuclear clocks could lead to more precise timekeeping, which is crucial for various applications. 'The creation of a nuclear clock is an important advance in timekeeping that promises wide-ranging practical applications and offers a new tool to investigate fundamental physics,' Schumm concluded.
The creation of a nuclear clock was something that physicists dreamt of for almost 50 years. In my team, we have been working towards this goal since 2008.
Shiqian Ding, Physicist, Tsinghua University
The two teams worked independently and reached operating thorium-229 nuclear clocks at the same time, using different experimental approaches. I think this is very encouraging because it shows that the concept is robust and not dependent on one particular technical implementation.
Shiqian Ding, Physicist, Tsinghua University
The best conventional atomic clocks can go billions of years losing or gaining only one second. This ultra-accuracy has been vital for applications such as global navigation satellite systems and internet.
Thorsten Schumm, Physicist, TU Wien
