Physicists develop first timekeepers based on atomic nuclei transitions

Two independent teams of researchers have successfully built the first clocks based on quantum transitions within atomic nuclei, Physics World reported. These instruments represent the culmination of more than two decades of experimental research. Traditional timekeeping devices rely on transitions between electronic energy levels rather than nuclear processes. [1]

Standard atomic clocks operate by measuring the electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed when an electron transitions between two hyperfine energy levels in the ground state of an atom. These electronic clocks provide the standard timing signals used in satellite navigation systems and telecommunications infrastructure. [1]

A clock is a device designed to measure and display precise intervals of time shorter than natural cycles like days or months, Wikipedia notes. Physical mechanisms used for timekeeping have evolved over millennia, culminating in modern quantum atomic standards. [2]

The development of nuclear clocks offers a new approach to physical measurement because nuclear states are less susceptible to external electromagnetic perturbations than electron shells. According to Physics World, these new devices could become essential tools for precision research, including searches for dark matter and the detection of gravitational waves. [1]