Scientists from Tsinghua University and other Chinese research institutions have developed a nuclear optical clock that measures time using energy transitions within atomic nuclei. This was reported by CCTV+, a partner of TV BRICS.
The team created a continuous-wave vacuum-ultraviolet laser operating at a wavelength of 148.4 nanometres. It was used to trigger a transition in the nucleus of thorium-229, a radioactive isotope. By synchronising the laser frequency with this transition, the researchers established a new approach to precision timekeeping.
Unlike conventional atomic clocks, which rely on microwave signals or transitions involving electrons, nuclear optical clocks use the rhythm of an atomic nucleus as their reference. According to Ding Shiqian, an associate professor in Tsinghua University’s Department of Physics and an adjunct researcher at the Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences, this rhythm reaches approximately two quadrillion cycles per second, enabling time to be divided into extremely small intervals.
The approach could offer greater stability because atomic nuclei are less susceptible than surrounding electrons to external disturbances, including electric and magnetic fields. This characteristic may help improve measurement precision and create opportunities to develop more compact devices suitable for applications beyond research laboratories.
The technology could support highly accurate positioning and distance measurements for satellites and spacecraft. Potential applications include navigation systems, deep-space exploration and other fields that rely on precise time and frequency standards.
According to experts, the development adds to research into next-generation timekeeping technologies, with the potential to advance both fundamental physics and practical systems requiring exceptionally accurate measurements.