The most accurate and precise atomic clock in the world is pushing new boundaries in physics

In mankind’s constant pursuit of perfection, scientists have developed an atomic clock that is more accurate and precise than any clock previously created. The new clock was built by scientists at JILA, a joint institution of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado Boulder.

These clocks enable precise navigation in vast space as well as the search for new particles, and are the latest to go beyond mere timekeeping. With their increased precision, these next-generation timekeepers could reveal hidden underground mineral deposits and test fundamental theories such as general relativity with unprecedented rigor.

For atomic clock architects, it’s not just about building better clocks; it’s about unlocking the secrets of the universe and paving the way for technologies that will shape our world for generations to come.

The worldwide scientific community is considering redefining a second, international unit of time based on this next-generation optical atomic clock. Current generation atomic clocks shine microwaves on atoms to measure a second. This new wave of clocks illuminates atoms with visible light waves that have a much higher frequency so that the second can be counted much more accurately.

Compared to current microwave clocks, optical clocks are expected to bring much greater precision to international timekeeping – potentially losing only one second every 30 billion years.

However, before these atomic clocks can operate with such high accuracy, they must be very accurate; in other words, they must be able to measure extremely small fractions of a second. Achieving high accuracy and high precision can have huge implications.

Trapped in time

JILA’s new clock uses a network of light known as an “optical grating” to capture and measure tens of thousands of individual atoms simultaneously. Having such a large file provides a huge advantage in accuracy. The more atoms are measured, the more data the clock has to accurately measure the second.

To achieve the new record performance, JILA researchers used a shallower, finer “web” of laser light to trap atoms than in previous optical grating clocks. This greatly reduced the two main sources of error – the effects of laser light trapping atoms and atoms bumping into each other when they are too tightly packed.

The researchers describe their progress in a paper that has been accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters. The job is currently available at arXiv prepress server.

Hourly relativity on the smallest scales

“These clocks are so precise that they can detect tiny effects predicted by theories like general relativity, even at the microscopic scale,” said NIST and JILA physicist Jun Ye. “It pushes the boundaries of what’s possible with timing.”

General relativity is Einstein’s theory that describes how gravity is caused by the distortion of space and time. One of the key predictions of general relativity is that time itself is affected by gravity—the stronger the gravitational field, the slower time passes.

This new clock design may enable the detection of relativistic timekeeping effects on the submillimeter scale, about the thickness of a single human hair. Raising or lowering the clock by this tiny distance is enough for researchers to detect a tiny change in the flow of time caused by the effects of gravity.

This ability to observe the effects of general relativity on a microscopic scale can significantly bridge the gap between the microscopic quantum realm and the large-scale phenomena that general relativity describes.

Space Navigation and Quantum Advances

More accurate atomic clocks also allow for more precise navigation and exploration in space. As humans venture further into the solar system, clocks will need to keep accurate time over vast distances. Even small errors in timing can lead to navigational errors that grow exponentially the further you travel.

“If we want to land a spacecraft on Mars with absolute precision, we will need clocks that are orders of magnitude more accurate than what we have in GPS today,” Ye said. “These new hours are a significant step towards making that possible.”

The same methods used to trap and control atoms could also lead to a breakthrough in quantum computing. Quantum computers must be able to precisely manipulate the internal properties of individual atoms or molecules in order to perform calculations. Advances in the control and measurement of microscopic quantum systems have greatly advanced this effort.

By venturing into the microscopic realm where the theories of quantum mechanics and general relativity intersect, researchers are opening the door to new levels of understanding of the fundamental nature of reality itself. From the infinitesimal scales where the flow of time is distorted by gravity, to the vast cosmic frontiers where dark matter and dark energy rule, this exquisite precision clock promises to shed light on some of the universe’s deepest mysteries.

“We’re exploring the frontiers of measurement science,” Ye said. “When you can measure things with this level of precision, you start to see phenomena that until now we’ve only been able to theorize about.”

This story is republished with the kind permission of NIST. Read the original story here.