Scientists Unveil World’s First Nuclear Clock with Greater Precision

Scientists at TU Wien and JILA/NIST have successfully developed the world’s first nuclear clock, a breakthrough that could lead to even greater precision than atomic clocks. The achievement builds on recent research by Professor Thorsten Schumm and his team at TU Wien, who successfully switched an atomic nucleus from one state to another using a laser. This effect can be used for high-precision measurements.

By combining a high-precision optical atomic clock with a high-energy laser system and coupling it with a crystal containing thorium atomic nuclei, the researchers have created a timekeeping device that could potentially surpass the precision of traditional atomic clocks. The nuclear clock uses a technique called an “optical gearbox” to convert infrared frequencies to UV frequencies, allowing the thorium nuclei to be excited by the laser light. This innovation has already enabled measurements with extreme precision, and its potential applications extend beyond timekeeping to fields such as geology and astrophysics.

The World’s First Nuclear Clock: A New Era in Timekeeping

The development of atomic clocks has been a significant milestone in the pursuit of precision timekeeping. However, researchers have now taken a major leap forward with the creation of the world’s first nuclear clock. This innovative technology combines the principles of atomic clocks with the unique properties of thorium nuclei to achieve unprecedented levels of precision.

The Nuclear Clock: A New Frontier

The nuclear clock is based on the idea of using thorium nuclei as a timekeeping device, rather than traditional atoms. Thorium nuclei are much smaller and less susceptible to external disturbances, making them ideal for high-precision measurements. Researchers at TU Wien (Vienna) and JILA/NIST (USA) have successfully demonstrated the feasibility of this concept by coupling a high-precision optical atomic clock with a high-energy laser system and a crystal containing thorium atomic nuclei.

The Ticking of a Laser Beam: Understanding Atomic Clocks

Atomic clocks rely on the oscillation of electromagnetic waves to measure time intervals. However, the frequency of these waves can be affected by external disturbances, which limits their precision. To overcome this limitation, researchers have developed techniques such as the “optical gearbox” and the “frequency comb.” These methods enable the conversion of infrared frequencies to UV frequencies, allowing for more precise control over the energy difference between the two states of the thorium nuclei.

The Coupling of Elements: A Key Breakthrough

The successful coupling of the atomic clock with the thorium nuclei was a critical breakthrough in the development of the nuclear clock. This required the creation of an “optical gearbox” that could convert infrared frequencies to UV frequencies, as well as the development of a specialized crystal containing thorium nuclei. The production of this crystal at TU Wien (Vienna) involved several years of research and development.

Record Precision: A New Era in Measurement

The nuclear clock has enabled measurements with unprecedented levels of precision. Researchers have been able to determine the frequency of the thorium states with an accuracy of a few kilohertz, which is orders of magnitude better than previous measurements. This level of precision is expected to enable significant advances in various fields of research, from geology to astrophysics.

Future Applications: Unlocking New Possibilities

The nuclear clock has far-reaching implications for the measurement of physical quantities beyond timekeeping. Its extreme precision could be used to study the fundamental laws of nature and investigate whether the constants of nature are perfectly constant or vary in space and time. This technology is expected to have a significant impact on various fields of research, enabling new discoveries and insights that were previously impossible.