Researchers at the US research institute JILA have developed a highly precise atomic clock that is capable of measuring the smallest impacts predicted by Einstein’s general theory of relativity. The clock, which was developed using visible light, is incredibly accurate and only loses one second every 30 billion years.
To achieve this level of precision, the JILA team used a network of lights called an optical lattice to measure tens of thousands of atoms simultaneously. This allowed them to gather more data for accurate timekeeping and reduce sources of error such as the lasers used to measure the atoms and atoms colliding with each other. By making precise measurements in this way, they were able to detect submillimeter-level effects that are essential for quantum computers and could be used to explore the intersection of general relativity and quantum mechanics in the microscopic realm.
The JILA clock’s precision could also be beneficial for timekeeping across vast distances in space, such as accurately landing a spacecraft on Mars. Jun Ye, a physicist at JILA, highlights the importance of a clock that is much more precise than the GPS system for such tasks. JILA, a joint institute of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado Boulder, will publish their findings in the journal Physical Review Letters.