Major Leap for Nuclear Clock Paves Way for Ultraprecise Timekeeping

Researchers at JILA, a collaboration between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado Boulder, have made significant advancements in developing a nuclear clock, which could surpass the precision of current atomic clocks. Unlike atomic clocks that measure time based on electron transitions, nuclear clocks utilize energy changes within an atom's nucleus, making them less susceptible to external disturbances. The team successfully demonstrated key components of a nuclear clock by using a specialized ultraviolet laser to measure energy jumps in thorium-229 nuclei. This method allows for extremely precise frequency measurements, which are essential for accurate timekeeping. The research indicates that nuclear clocks could enhance technologies such as GPS, internet synchronization, and secure communications, while also providing insights into fundamental physics, including dark matter detection and the constancy of natural constants. Although a fully operational nuclear clock is not yet realized, the findings represent a crucial step toward creating a compact and stable timekeeping device. The results were published in the journal Nature on September 4, 2024.

- Nuclear clocks could offer greater accuracy than current atomic clocks.

- The research focuses on thorium-229 nuclei for precise time measurement.

- Advancements may improve technologies like GPS and internet speed.

- Nuclear clocks could aid in fundamental physics research and dark matter detection.

- The study represents a significant step toward developing a portable and stable nuclear clock.