A clock so accurate it can detect effects of relativity

4 Jul. () –

Scientists have developed an atomic clock so precise and accurate that it allows accurate navigation in the vast expanse of space, as well as the search for new particles.

The new clock was built by researchers at JILA, a joint institution of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado at Boulder.

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 a better clock; 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 world scientific community is considering redefining the secondthe international unit of time, based on these next-generation optical atomic clocks. Current-generation atomic clocks shine microwaves on atoms to measure the second. This new generation of clocks illuminates atoms with visible light waves, which have a much higher frequency, to count the seconds much more precisely.

DELAYS ONE SECOND EVERY 30 BILLION YEARS

Compared to current microwave clocks, optical clocks are expected to provide much greater accuracy for international timekeeping, with a potential delay of only one second every 30 billion years.

But before these atomic clocks can work so precisely, they need to be very accurate – in other words, they need to be able to measure extremely small fractions of a second. Achieving both high precision and high accuracy could have enormous implications.

The new JILA clock uses a network of light known as an “optical grating” to trap and measure tens of thousands of individual atoms simultaneously. Having such a large array provides a huge advantage in precision. The more atoms are measured, the more data the clock has to obtain an accurate measurement of the second..

To achieve a new performance record, the JILA researchers used a shallower, softer “net” of laser light to trap the atoms, compared to previous optical lattice clocks. This significantly reduced two main sources of error: the effects of laser light trapping the atoms and atoms colliding with each other when they are packed too tightly.

The researchers describe their progress in an article that has been accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters. The work is currently available on the arXiv preprint server.

EFFECTS ON A MICROSCOPIC SCALE

“This clock is so precise that it can detect tiny effects predicted by theories such as general relativity, even on a microscopic scale,” he said. it’s a statement Jun Ye, a physicist at NIST and JILA. “It’s pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with timing.”

General relativity is Einstein’s theory that describes how gravity is caused by the warping 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 allow the detection of relativistic effects in timekeeping at the submillimeter scale, roughly the width of a human hair. In order for researchers to discern a minuscule change in the flow of time caused by the effects of gravity, just raise or lower the clock by that tiny distance.

This ability to observe the effects of general relativity at the microscopic scale can significantly bridge the gap between the microscopic quantum realm and the large-scale phenomena described by general relativity.

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

“If we want a spacecraft to land on Mars with millimeter accuracy, we’re going to need clocks that are orders of magnitude more accurate than what we have in GPS today,” Ye said.This new watch is a big step towards making that possible.”

The same methods used to trap and control atoms could also lead to advances in quantum computing. Quantum computers must be able to precisely manipulate the internal properties of individual atoms or molecules to perform calculations. Progress in the control and measurement of microscopic quantum systems has significantly advanced this task..

By venturing into the microscopic realm where the theories of quantum mechanics and general relativity intersect, researchers are opening a door to new levels of understanding about 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 dominate, The exquisite precision of this timepiece promises to illuminate some of the deepest mysteries of the universe.