In Vienna and Beijing, the First Nuclear Clocks Begin to Tick

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1. 1h ago

   First Nuclear Clocks Begin to Tick in Vienna and Beijing

   Two independent research teams in Vienna and Beijing have built and operated the world's first functioning nuclear clocks using the thorium-229 radioisotope. The devices utilize lasers to drive energy-level transitions within atomic nuclei rather than observing orbiting electrons like conventional atomic clocks. Published simultaneously in the journal Nature, one of the new clocks ran untouched for more than a day, marking a major milestone in precision timekeeping and metrology. The technology could eventually lead to highly portable, ultra-precise timekeepers that surpass traditional atomic standards.

   Why it matters

   For decades, the world's most precise clocks have measured time by counting the vibrations of electrons orbiting atoms. Shifting this measurement to the atomic nucleus exploits tightly bound nuclear energy states that are far less susceptible to external environmental disturbances. This leap forward opens new pathways for fundamental physics research, including tests for dark matter and meeting high-precision frequency requirements for satellite navigation and deep-space exploration.

   What is confirmed

   • Research teams in Vienna and Beijing have independently built the world's first operating nuclear clocks utilizing the thorium-229 nucleus.
   • Two papers detailing the research were published in the journal Nature.
   • The Austrian research was led by a team from the Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology and TU Wien.
   • The Chinese research was conducted by a team from Tsinghua University and the Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences.
   • The Chinese device used a self-developed 148-nanometer continuous-wave vacuum ultraviolet laser and a thorium-229-doped calcium fluoride crystal.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The nuclear clock built in Beijing kept a steadier beat with a sixfold stability edge over atomic clocks in early tests.

   What to watch next

   • Further durability and stability testing of the thorium-229 optical nuclear clocks.
   • Implementation of nuclear clocks in satellite navigation and deep-space exploration scenarios.
   Sources used for this update (20)

   1. The New York Times — In Vienna and Beijing, the First Nuclear Clocks Begin to Tick
   2. Nature — A thorium-229 optical nuclear clock with feedback loop
   3. The Japan Times — Scientists in Vienna and Beijing create world’s first nuclear clocks
   4. American Physical Society — First Nuclear Clocks Kick Off a Precision Race
   5. Nature — A nuclear clock synchronized to 229Th
   6. Science Daily — Scientists build a nuclear clock that could make atomic clocks obsolete
   7. Hackaday — Thorium Clocks Start Ticking With Lasers
   8. global.chinadaily.com.cn — Time and tide wait for no man in pursuit of tech breakthrough - Chinadaily.com.cn
   9. www.martincid.com — The first nuclear clocks are ticking in Vienna and Beijing ...
   10. science.slashdot.org — First Thorium Nuclear Clocks Begin to Tick - Slashdot
   11. www.ans.org — Researchers in Vienna and Beijing report nuclear clock ...
   12. icanews.org — Nuclear Clocks Based on Thorium-229 Begin Operation in Vienna ...
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