Scientists at JILA, a collaborative institution between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado Boulder, have developed the most precise atomic clock ever built. This groundbreaking timekeeping device loses only a single second every 30 billion years, representing a significant leap forward in measurement science.
The clock utilizes an atomic trap containing tens of thousands of supercooled strontium atoms. Time is measured by tracking the consistent movement of electrons within these atoms, offering unparalleled accuracy. Details of this innovative technology are available in a preprint paper on arXiv.
While the standard second is currently defined by the cesium atom, this new clock employs strontium atoms for enhanced precision. It is twice as accurate as the previous record holder, as highlighted by ScienceAlert.
“This clock is so precise that it can detect tiny effects predicted by theories such as general relativity, even at the microscopic scale,” explains Jun Ye, NIST and JILA physicist and co-author of the study, in a NIST press release. “It’s pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with timekeeping.”
Relativity and the Future of Timekeeping
Einstein’s theory of general relativity posits that gravity influences time. This new clock is sensitive enough to detect these relativistic effects. Changes in the surrounding gravitational field directly impact the clock’s timekeeping. This is particularly relevant considering the future establishment of a separate time zone for the Moon, where clocks run 58.7 microseconds faster per day than on Earth due to gravitational differences.
As humanity’s space exploration extends beyond the Moon, highly accurate atomic clocks will become essential for precise navigation. Furthermore, the techniques used to control the supercooled atoms in this clock also have applications in quantum computing, where atoms near absolute zero serve as qubits.
Pushing the Frontiers of Measurement Science
We’re exploring the frontiers of measurement science,” says Ye. “When you can measure things with this level of precision, you start to see phenomena that we’ve only been able to theorize about until now.”
Traditional atomic clocks operate at microwave frequencies, whereas the strontium clock operates at optical frequencies, “ticking” trillions of times per second. Its accuracy is within 1/15,000,000,000 of a second per year. To put this in perspective, if the clock began ticking at the universe’s birth, it would still need more than double the universe’s current age to lose a single second.
A New Era of Precision
This remarkable achievement underscores the importance of precise timekeeping, not just for scientific advancement, but also for practical applications in navigation and quantum computing. This level of precision opens up new avenues for exploring fundamental physics and pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.
