Technik: Neuer Rekord: Die mit Abstand genaueste Uhr der Welt

A groundbreaking scientific development has been announced by researchers at the University of Singapore, who have created an atomic clock based on the metal lutetium that is ten times more precise than the current best clocks. This ultra-accurate instrument would only deviate by a second after 55 billion years, surpassing the age of our universe, estimated at 13.8 billion years.

The journal Nature published the findings, suggesting this leap in precision could benefit both theoretical physics and practical applications. Atomic clocks are already indispensable in various aspects of modern life, including satellite navigation, internet synchronization, stock market trading, and power grid stability.

The core component of these exceptional clocks is an ion, an electrically charged atom. Through the use of electric fields and lasers, researchers can manipulate the electrons within the ion to create a steady oscillation, which represents time. Unlike traditional atomic clocks, which typically oscillate at frequencies of over 9 billion times per second (9.192.631.770 oscillations per second for cesium clocks), the new lutetium clock operates at an astonishing 353.6 quintillion oscillations per second.

This high frequency, along with its resistance to temperature variations and magnetic fields, makes the lutetium clock exceptionally stable. Even if transported from the scorching conditions of Death Valley to the frigid temperatures of the Antarctic plateau, it would maintain its accuracy.

The researchers achieved this remarkable precision by placing two identical clocks side by side and comparing their time measurements. However, they encountered an unexpected challenge - the clocks' extraordinary accuracy made them sensitive to slight changes in altitude. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, time runs slower in stronger gravitational fields, meaning that clocks on Earth's surface tick more slowly than those in space.

This effect becomes significant for clocks at geostationary satellite altitudes, where it can result in a difference of about 50 microseconds per day. To account for this, the researchers had to correct for a five-millimeter altitude difference in their lutetium clocks. Despite these challenges, the scientists see potential benefits for their invention.

Lutetium clocks could potentially be used to monitor changes within volcanic magma chambers or to map out mineral deposits, as the gravitational effects the clocks measure are influenced by both altitude and the Earth's internal material distribution. However, the current size and complexity of the lutetium clocks present a barrier to widespread adoption, and the researchers are currently working on miniaturizing the technology to develop a portable version.