Thorium Clocks Start Ticking With Lasers
Researchers at the Vienna University of Technology have developed a self-regulating thorium-based atomic clock. By using a laser that adjusts based on the thorium crystal's absorption, the clock achieves greater stability than previous designs.
Why it matters
Advancements in atomic clock precision are critical for improving global navigation systems, telecommunications, and fundamental physics research.
Atomic clocks are super accurate. But, unsurprisingly, some atomic clocks are better than others, depending on your definition of better. Researchers at Vienna University claim to have a superior thorium-based atomic clock . It isn’t necessarily more accurate than other atomic clocks, but it is self-regulating.
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