JILA’s experimental strontium atomic clock has set new world records for both precision and stability, making it the most accurate timekeeping device ever built. The clock uses strontium atoms trapped in a lattice of laser light and measures their oscillations with extreme accuracy. It is so precise that it would neither gain nor lose a second in about 5 billion years. This level of precision is crucial for future time standards and scientific research. The clock’s stability is also very high, meaning its ticks are consistent over time, allowing it to outperform other clocks in just a few seconds of measurement.
While the current international time standard is based on cesium clocks, the strontium clock operates at much higher optical frequencies, which could lead to a new time standard in the future. Researchers at NIST and JILA are continuing to improve the clock’s performance, with more breakthroughs expected in the next 5 to 10 years. These advancements could lead to better technologies like super-sensors for gravity and temperature. The development of this clock was supported by several organizations, including NIST, DARPA, and the National Science Foundation.
Keywords: atomic clock, precision, stability
