Scientists invent nuclear clock utilizing atomic nucleus
A completely new nuclear clock has been developed that operates by monitoring the interaction of the atomic nucleus instead of electrons.
Scientists have invented a new type of nuclear clock that monitors the interaction of the atomic nucleus, differing from traditional systems that track the energy states of electrons.
Transition from Atomic Clocks to Nuclear Clock
For over seventy years, atomic clocks have been used to measure time by tracking transitions between the energy states of electrons.
These traditional systems have enabled GPS technology and experiments proving that time behaves differently in various regions of space.
Working Principle of Nuclear Clocks
The newly developed nuclear clocks operate by monitoring how light interacts with the atomic nucleus.
Because atomic nuclei are approximately 100,000 times smaller than atoms, they are much less affected by external electric fields.
Reliability and the Use of Thorium-229
This situation eliminates the disadvantages of external factors, making nuclear clocks much more reliable.
The foundation of the study is based on a proposal made in 2003 suggesting that the element thorium-229 could be used.
Dark Matter and Future Research
These newly developed clocks could be used to detect the presence of dark matter, which constitutes a major part of the universe.
Researchers note that nuclear clocks are not yet as stable as the best atomic clocks.