Scientists in China have developed an extremely precise clock that could change the measurement of time. According to South China Morning Post (SCMP), the optical clock loses or gains one second every 7 billion years, bringing scientists closer to redefining the second as a basic unit of time. The new clock uses ultra-cold strontium atoms and powerful laser beams for stability in measuring time. This makes China only the second country in the world after the US to achieve such precise timekeeping, the SCMP report further said.
The ground-breaking research was published in the peer-reviewed journal Metrologia earlier this month. The research team was led by physicist Pan Jianwei.
The team said that their research opens up new opportunities to test fundamental physics theories, detect gravitational waves and search for dark matter.
The team also said that the clock has a stability and uncertainty under 5 quintillionths.
The current record holder is the optical clock hosted by the University of Colorado in Boulder. It was developed by a group led by Chinese-American physicist Jun Ye.
Optical clocks are considered more precise in measuring time because they use laser light at a frequency of around 500 THz, which is adjusted to precisely match the narrow atomic resonance of particular quantum transitions of atoms such as strontium, ytterbium, and mercury, among others, according to American Physical Society.
These devices can significantly enhance the precision of global navigation satellite systems, and help build highly secure communication networks based on quantum key distribution.
Till now, the second is defined on the basis of microwave fountain clock, a type of atomic clock. But its precision is limited by the microwave frequency standard. Scientists find optical clocks better and precise than the atomic clocks.
Featured Video Of The Day
NDTV Exclusive With IMA President: "It's Definitely Not Done By One Culprit"
Chinese Scientists Suggest Drilling Holes In Plane's Wing To Reduce Sonic Booms Scientists In China Create Most Powerful "Sound Laser" Ever Made Women's Day 2024: 5 Quick Cooking Tips For Women Leading Busy Lives Doctors Halt OPD Services Amid Nationwide Strike Over Kolkata Rape Horror Kolkata Rape-Murder: Fractures, 150 mg Semen, Other Claims Denied By Cops CBI Team At Kolkata Hospital For Digital Mapping Of Crime Scene Centre Invites Bids To Empanel AI Infra Providers Under Rs 10,372 Crore Plan "Climate Change A Downside Risk To Indian Economy": Gita Gopinath To NDTV High-Value Cash Transactions At Hotels, Hospitals Come Under Tax Scrutiny Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.