#atomicclocks

[nanotechnologyworld]

Milestone for novel atomic clock

An international research team has taken a decisive step toward a new generation of atomic clocks. At the European XFEL X-ray laser, the res

Crucial to the accuracy of an atomic clock is the width of the resonance used. Current caesium atomic clocks already use a very narrow resonance; strontium atomic clocks achieve a higher accuracy with only one second in 15 billion years. Further improvement is practically impossible to achieve with this method of electron excitation. Therefore, teams around the world have been working for several years on the concept of a “nuclear” clock, which uses transitions in the atomic nucleus as the pulse generator rather than in the atomic shell. Nuclear resonances are much more acute than the resonances of electrons in the atomic shell, but also much harder to excite. Atomic clocks have numerous applications that benefit from improved accuracy, such as precise positioning using satellite navigation.

[timestechnow]

Microchip Increases Manufacturing Capacity of its Hydrogen Masers

Hydrogen masers are deployed globally and actively contribute to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the global standard for the time of day

Microchip Technology Inc. is strengthening its position in precision timing solutions by expanding manufacturing capacity for its advanced hydrogen masers—among the most accurate atomic clocks available today. With a new facility aimed at boosting production and reducing lead times, the move addresses growing demand across critical sectors like satellite communications, GNSS, power grids, and scientific research.

[govindhtech]

Weak Measurement Quantum For Atomic Clock Precision

Poor Measurement Quantum

A New Quantum Method Using “Weak Measurements” Could Improve Atomic Clock Precision

A quantum sensing breakthrough from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the California Institute of Technology may improve atomic clock accuracy. Their novel frequency estimate method uses consecutive Weak Measurement Quantum to overcome noise and instability that have long limited high-precision technology. By modestly expanding a quantum system's useful coherence duration, this novel method surpasses conventional error-mitigation procedures and increases frequency estimation accuracy.

The work, lead by Su Direkci, Manuel Endres, and Tuvia Gefen, addresses fundamental quantum metrology challenges like superposition and entanglement. Their findings could be used for gravitational wave detection, magnetic field sensing, and precision spectroscopy.

Beating the Noise: Weak Measurements Increase Coherence

Precision frequency monitoring is essential for many advanced technologies, including atomic clocks. Noise, especially phase diffusion and slip faults, sometimes reduces its accuracy. Phase diffusion limits a quantum system's ability to maintain coherence, the steady state needed for meaningful measurements. Phase slip errors, often induced by measurement local oscillator faults, also create huge inaccuracies.

The team's unique solution involves "weak measurements"—a series of sensitive probes. Soft interactions with extra quantum bits (Ancilla Qubits) can prevent phase diffusion, unlike a single strong measurement that can break a quantum system. This method enhances system coherence time, allowing longer, more accurate observations. The research shows that this method reduces errors, allowing for a more accurate system state evaluation even with noise and decoherence.

Intelligent Strategies to Exceed Theories

This research questions traditional measuring precision boundaries. The standard Quantum Cramér-Rao bound, which specifies the maximum measurement precision, is a theoretical limit that often guides quantum metrology. This latest study reveals that these borders are flexible, especially with smart measurement methods.

Bayesian estimate approaches and prior parameter information can improve sensing performance beyond the quantum limit. This discovery matters. Instead of focussing on the theoretical maximum, the researchers recommend focussing on “extractable information,” or the amount of reliable data a measurement may yield. When combined with adaptive sequential measures, which adjust the strategy depending on past results, this pragmatic method improves final estimation and resource use. Constant measurements are useful, but noise and faults must be handled.

The Next Generation of Atomic Clock Protocol

To apply their findings, the researchers created a Ramsey approach for Weak Measurement Quantum. One of this protocol's merits is its capacity to strengthen weak measures. The gadget can monitor many frequencies, even under noisy conditions, due to its high sensitivity and wide bandwidth, making it more versatile than current solutions. The process asymptotically approaches the basic precision bounds of perfect, noiseless conditions.

The authors stress that while this outcome is promising, practical challenges remain. Existing protocols require many ancilla qubits, which can be resource-intensive. The committee suggests reducing ancillas or implementing error-correction methods in the future. Weak Measurement Quantum with entangled states is an exciting research strategy that could enhance measurement time and qubit count. These advances enable a new generation of ultra-precise quantum sensors, which could improve communication and science technology.

[govindhtech]

Introduction To Quantum Clocks: Ultimate Precise Timekeeping

Intro to quantum clocks

Quantum clocks use laser cooling to confine single ions in electromagnetic ion traps. NIST scientists constructed a clock 37 times more accurate than the international norm in 2010.

A New Quantum Clock Has Unprecedented Precision with Less Energy. Scientists revealed a quantum clock with unsurpassed accuracy and low energy usage, advancing precise timekeeping. This device challenges scientific views about the inherent cost of entropy in exceedingly accurate time measurements. It could revolutionise quantum computing and other high-precision technologies, as well as science.

Enduring Precise Timekeeping Challenge

Physicists have spent years developing clocks that measure little quantities of time accurately. Quantum clocks use quantum physics to increase precision. Entropy and energy use have always increased with clock accuracy. This energy cost has historically included accurate timekeeping.

Traditional and quantum clocks count irreversible events like atoms hopping energy levels or pendulum swings. Each “tick” loses a tiny amount of energy as heat, increasing entropy. Double precision has typically doubled entropy in these systems. The one-to-one trade-off was considered a shortcoming of timekeeping technology until recently.

Paradigm Change: Almost Dissipation-Free Quantum Clock The 2023 Quantum Thermodynamics Conference in Vienna inspired a global community of scholars to carefully investigate these presumptions. Their unique approach allows quantum processes to run continuously and coherently, like a wave, to save energy.

Not every tick is measured by this unique quantum clock. Instead, coherent quantum transport lets quantum excitations small energy packets travel through a system easily, monitoring the entire temporal flow. According to researcher Marcus Huber, this allows a resolution-precision trade-off “in a new and genuinely quantum manner,” similar to an hourglass where waiting for sand to fall results in more accurately resolved time units.

This cohesive process without intervening measurement or interruption prevents entropy from being produced with each tick. The linear relationship between entropy and accuracy is broken, and entropy increases much more slowly as precision increases, suggesting high efficiency. The clock's architecture uses quantum many-body systems, in which particles form coordinated, wave-like patterns, to enable precise control without thermodynamic costs.

Impacts on Future Technologies

This development improves precise timekeeping, which quantum technologies require. Current atomic clocks have little energy dissipation, but this will change. Florian Meier, the lead researcher, compared it to traditional computing, where heat dissipation, previously considered minor, is now a major concern for data centres that manage massive amounts of data. Dissipation may also limit high-precision clock applications.

Importantly, this strategy cleverly uses quantum phenomena like coherence transfer to lower entropy to a substantial degree, but it cannot completely eradicate it since thermodynamics forbids it. Its energy-efficient design could power additional quantum machines like sensors and computers, making them more energy-efficient than timekeeping. This might boost space exploration, telecommunications, which require precise synchronisation, and even national security and global positioning on a military level.

Theory to Reality: The Future

The researchers initially validated their unique approach using theoretical models. Workable prototypes are being made. Chalmers University of Technology is prototyping a superconducting circuit. Lab testing of energy-saving advantages requires prototypes. The findings of this major study were reported in Nature Physics.

The Future of Time and Tech

The creation of this quantum clock is a breakthrough as global accuracy and efficiency need rise. This technology could improve precision and save energy, ushering in a new era. It asks how quantum physics can revolutionize our perspective of time and technology, potentially enabling unparalleled efficiency in many industries.

[phonemantra-blog]

Imagine a world where science and pop culture collide in a dazzling celebration of groundbreaking discoveries. That’s the very essence of the Breakthrough Prize ceremony, an annual event that honors the brightest minds in science and mathematics. This prestigious award ceremony, often referred to as the “Oscars of Science,” isn’t just about recognizing brilliant scientific achievements. It’s about fostering public interest in science, inspiring a new generation of scientists, and bridging the gap between the worlds of research and entertainment. Bridging the Gap Between Science and Pop Culture Founded in 2012 by a collective of visionary individuals – Sergey Brin […]

Imagine a world where science and pop culture collide in a dazzling celebration of groundbreaking discoveries. That's the very essence of the Breakthrough Prize ceremony, an annual event that honors the brightest minds in science and mathematics. This prestigious award ceremony, often referred to as the "Oscars of Science," isn't just about recognizing brilliant scientific achievements. It's about fostering public interest in science, inspiring a new generation of scientists, and bridging the gap between the worlds of research and entertainment. Science Shines Bright at the 2024 Bridging the Gap Between Science and Pop Culture Founded in 2012 by a collective of visionary individuals – Sergey Brin (Google co-founder), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook founder), Priscilla Chan (co-founder of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative), Yuri & Julia Milner (technology investor & science philanthropist), and Anne Wojcicki (co-founder of 23andMe) – the Breakthrough Prize aims to elevate the profile of scientists in popular culture. By bringing together the greatest minds in science with the biggest names in Hollywood, the Breakthrough Prize ceremony creates a captivating spectacle that garners global attention. Past ceremonies have featured A-list presenters and performers like Kristen Bell, Vin Diesel, Gal Gadot, John Legend, and Lionel Richie, further amplifying the event's impact. A Glittering Celebration of Scientific Breakthroughs The 2024 Breakthrough Prize ceremony marks a significant milestone – the 10th anniversary of this prestigious event. Set to take place on April 13th at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, the ceremony promises to be even more spectacular than ever before. Hosted by the ever-charming James Corden, the event will feature a star-studded lineup, including Robert Downey Jr., Kim Kardashian, Alicia Keys, Venus Williams, and Michelle Yeoh. This prestigious gathering will bring together not just Hollywood royalty and renowned athletes, but also a community of scientists whose discoveries shape our world. The production itself is a testament to the ceremony's grand scale. Vanity Fair and Don Mischer Productions, responsible for major events like the Oscars, Emmys, Olympic Games openings, and Super Bowl halftime shows, are teaming up to create a truly unforgettable experience. Honoring the Architects of Progress: 2024 Breakthrough Prize Laureates Every year, the Breakthrough Prize recognizes scientists who have made significant contributions to the advancement of human knowledge. The 2024 laureates represent a diverse range of scientific fields, focusing on critical areas like human biology, cancer research, and neurological diseases. This year's prestigious awards acknowledge a total of 26 scientific minds: 11 winners of the $3 million Breakthrough Prizes: These awards are distributed across life sciences, fundamental physics, and mathematics. 12 early-career physicists and mathematicians: Recognizing the exceptional talent of emerging scientists. 3 Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prizes: Dedicated to supporting the work of young women mathematicians. Life Sciences: Revolutionizing Treatments and Understanding Among the 2024 Breakthrough Prize laureates in Life Sciences are researchers who have made groundbreaking discoveries with the potential to transform healthcare. Carl H. June and Michel Sadelain revolutionized cancer treatment by harnessing the power of the immune system. Their work focuses on re-engineering T cells – immune system soldiers – to target and eliminate cancerous cells in individual patients. This pioneering approach has shown remarkable success in treating leukemias and other aggressive cancers. Demis Hassabis and John Jumper are behind the creation of AlphaFold, a revolutionary AI system that can accurately predict the structure of proteins. This breakthrough discovery has immense implications for understanding disease mechanisms and developing new medications. Thomas Gasser, Ellen Sidransky, Andrew Singleton, and Richard Youle shed light on Parkinson's Disease by pinpointing the most common genetic causes of this debilitating neurological condition. Their research offers valuable insights into the disease process and paves the way for the development of better treatments. Sabine Hadida, Paul Negulescu, and Fredrick Van Goor are being recognized for creating life-changing treatments for cystic fibrosis. Their work targets the root cause of the disease, greatly improving the lives of cystic fibrosis patients. Fundamental Physics and Mathematics: Unveiling the Universe's Secrets The Breakthrough Prize also acknowledges groundbreaking discoveries in the realms of fundamental physics and mathematics. Hidetoshi Katori and Jun Ye constructed atomic clocks with unparalleled accuracy. These incredible timekeeping devices lose less than a second in over 15 billion years, pushing the boundaries of precision measurement. John Cardy and Alexander Zamolodchikov made significant contributions to statistical physics and quantum field theory. Their work has applications in various fields, from particle physics to the study of black holes.

[drishtiias-blog]

2016 was last a second longer as a ‘leap second’ added to the world’s clocks on New Year’s Eve by timekeepers. The extra second was inserted at the U.S. Naval Observatory’s Master Clock Facility in Washington, D.C., at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) which corresponds to 5:29:59 a.m. Indian Standard Time on January 1.

[penny4nasa]

NASA is preparing to fly a Deep Space Atomic Clock, or DSAC, demonstration that will revolutionize the way we conduct deep-space navigation by enabling a spacecraft to calculate its own timing and navigation data in real time. The DSAC would fly and validate a miniature mercury-ion atomic clock 10 times more accurate than today's systems. That kind of improvement is a big deal, because precision timing is vital to the navigation and performance of any deep space mission.

Image and information credits: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/tdm/clock/dsac.html