A HIGH-powered nuclear device could revolutionize the way we keep track of time.
For the first time, scientists have demonstrated key elements of a nuclear clock – and the development could stoke faster internet and more reliable geolocation services.
Research published today in Nature shows how scientists are making strides towards revolutionizing timekeeping.
We keep time with atomic clocks, which tune laser light to frequencies that trigger electrons to jump between energy levels.
Atoms are the particles that compose matter, described as “basic building blocks.” A nuclear clock uses signals from the core of an atom, called the nucleus.
The hypothetical device would rely on energy jumps within the atom’s central region, where particles called protons and neutrons are highly concentrated.
The research team used an ultraviolet laser to measure the frequency of an energy jump in a nucleus embedded in a solid crystal.
The term “frequency” describes how frequently an event occurs – usually denoted by the number of times a wave passes a set point.
The scientists utilized another tool called an optical frequency comb to count the number of ultraviolet wave cycles contributing to the energy jump.
While the team fell short of building a complete nuclear clock, they have all the essential technology – and their findings alone have massive implications for life as we know it.
Nuclear clocks would be much more accurate than current atomic clocks.
The laser light needed to excite particles in nuclei has a much higher frequency, leading to more precise timekeeping.
This would change how we keep official international time and alter everyday technologies like GPS and internet synchronization.
The increased precision is due to the structure of the nucleus.
Compared to electrons in atomic clocks, nuclei are far less sensitive to external disturbances like stray electromagnetic fields.
The development could lead to better navigation systems, faster internet speeds, and more stable network connections.
However, scientists are struggling to find a practical way to build nuclear clocks.
Most atomic nuclei must be hit by a high-frequency form of light known as a coherent X-ray. These rays have far greater energy than what can be created with current technology.
Scientists have focused on thorium-229, an isotope of a radioactive metal. Its nucleus has a smaller energy jump than any known atom, requiring low-energy ultraviolet light.
The researchers were able to create all the essential parts of a clock and found its level of precision was 1 million times greater than the previous wavelength-based measurement.
The team compared this frequency to one of the world’s most accurate atomic clocks, which uses strontium atoms.
In doing so, they established the first direct frequency link between a nuclear transition and an atomic clock – a crucial step in integrating the future tech into timekeeping systems.
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