The development of accurate time measurement has opened up a wide range of everyday applications, including GPS positioning and the search for dark matter. The new atomic clock, developed at the University of Boulder, Colorado, USA, is twice as accurate as the previous most accurate clock. It contains around 40,000 strontium atoms that have been cooled using lasers to a state just billionths of a degree warmer than absolute zero.
The clock measures time based on the vibrations of electrons in these ultra-cold atoms, which oscillate rapidly between two known quantum states. This high level of accuracy is achieved by protecting the atoms from external disturbances and heat. While it may not immediately lead to new discoveries in physics, it sets a new standard for precision measurements and opens up new possibilities for research.
Atomic clocks have been used for precise time measurement since the first one was built in 1955, and the World Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) relies on approximately 450 atomic clocks in 80 different institutes and facilities. Cesium atomic clocks have defined the second with incredible accuracy. The refined atomic clock developed by Aeppli’s group could lead to advancements in various fields, such as more precise measurements of dark matter in space or monitoring the slow movements of continental plates.
Improvements in time measurement open up new areas in physics and other scientific disciplines. The incredible accuracy of the new atomic clock will allow for more precise measurements and may lead to unexpected discoveries in the future.
In conclusion, accurate time measurement has numerous everyday applications that are essential to many scientific disciplines. With improvements like this latest refined atomic clock, researchers can continue to make progress towards understanding our universe better than ever before.
