JILA’s strontium atomic clock has achieved unprecedented precision, maintaining timekeeping accuracy for 15 billion years – roughly the age of the universe. This represents a significant improvement over previous world records, with the clock now three times more precise and 50% more stable. The clock’s enhanced performance allows it to detect gravitational shifts at just 2 centimeters in height, bringing it closer to practical applications in relativistic geodesy. Researchers at JILA, NIST, and the Joint Quantum Institute collaborated to develop the clock, which operates at room temperature and measures the oscillation frequency of strontium atoms. The advancements have broad implications for timekeeping technologies, positioning systems, and scientific research.
Keywords: Metrology, Atomic, Precision, Strontium, Gravimeters
