Atomic clocks are highly precise timekeeping devices that measure time based on the natural vibration frequencies of atoms. The most common type of atomic clock uses cesium atoms, which resonate at extremely stable frequencies, providing an accuracy that does not vary by more than one second in millions of years. These clocks work by measuring the electromagnetic signals that atoms emit when they change energy levels. Due to their precision, atomic clocks are crucial for various applications, including global positioning systems (GPS), telecommunications, and in the synchronization of networks and large data systems. They also play a vital role in scientific research, particularly in the fields of quantum mechanics and relativity, where precise timing is essential for experiments and validations of theories.
JILA researchers have created the most precise atomic clock yet, using visible light for time measurement. This breakthrough could redefine timekeeping standards and unlock new…
Superradiant atoms offer a groundbreaking method for measuring time with an unprecedented level of precision. In a recent study published by the scientific journal Nature…
Researchers have developed methods to entangle large numbers of particles, improving the precision and speed of quantum measurements. These advancements could revolutionize quantum sensors and…
JILA’s breakthrough in optical atomic clocks uses quantum entanglement to surpass fundamental precision limits, setting a new standard in timekeeping and opening avenues for scientific…
Physicists are pushing the limits of atomic clock accuracy by using spin-squeezed states, achieving groundbreaking control over quantum noise and entanglement, leading to potential leaps…
In groundbreaking research, JILA and NIST scientists have enhanced the understanding of atomic clock precision by studying cooperative Lamb shifts in strontium-87 atoms within a…
Distinguished Professor Dr. Olga Kocharovskaya of Texas A&M and fellow physicists have started the countdown on developing a new generation of timepieces capable of shattering…
X-ray laser shows a possible route to substantially increased precision time measurement. An international research team has taken a decisive step toward a new generation…
Innovative technology allows for navigation in areas where GPS can’t reach. In a reported global first, researchers from the University of Tokyo have used superfast,…
Comparisons between optical clocks at PTB bolster the quest to detect potential interactions between ultralight dark matter and photons. Observations in astronomy suggest the presence…
In the search for dark matter — the mysterious, invisible substance that makes up more than 80% of matter in our universe — scientists and…
Nuclear clocks could potentially enable scientists to delve into the universe’s fundamental forces in future research endeavors. A critical step forward in this field has been…
The scientists of the QUEST Institute at PTB have developed and tested a new type of optical atomic clock. Highly charged ions are a form…
A new technique to measure vibrating atoms could improve the precision of atomic clocks and of quantum sensors for detecting dark matter or gravitational waves….
University of Wisconsin–Madison physicists have made one of the highest performance atomic clocks ever. Their instrument, known as an optical lattice atomic clock, can measure…
JILA physicists have measured Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, or more specifically, the effect called time dilation, at the smallest scale ever, showing that…
QUEST researchers overcome a major hurdle on the journey towards even more accurate optical atomic clocks. Laser beams can do more than just heat things…
Cooled to almost absolute zero, atoms not only move in waves like light but also can be focused into shapes called caustics, similar to the…