nuclear clock; The new generation of ultra-precise watches with accuracy up to a thousand times atomic clock

Using thorium and a laser, researchers at the University of Vienna have built a self-regulating nuclear clock that can be up to a thousand times more accurate and stable than current atomic clocks; The results of this research have been published in the journal Nature.

Using thorium and a laser, researchers at the University of Vienna have built a self-regulating nuclear clock that can be up to a thousand times more accurate and stable than current atomic clocks; The results of this research have been published in the journal Nature.

Ambassador Arjan - International Group: In an article published in the "Nature" magazine, researchers at the University of Vienna have created a thorium-based clock, which is not necessarily more accurate than other atomic clocks, but it is self-adjusting; That is, it adjusts itself without external help.

Thorium is a chemical and radioactive element found in nature in rocks and sands. The thorium nucleus has two energy states with a very short distance, which makes it possible to use it as an ultra-precise tachometer with laser stimulation.

In atomic clocks, the state change of electrons is used, but in this clock, the state change of the nucleus itself has been used. Because the core is more protected against environmental factors, this clock can be more accurate and stable; So experts estimate that nuclear clocks can be 100 to 1000 times more accurate than atomic clocks.

In this watch, the thorium crystal is stimulated with a laser, and then the output of thorium itself is used to adjust the laser. If the laser deviates from the correct frequency, the thorium nuclei absorb less light, and this small change automatically corrects the output frequency; To put it simply, thorium and laser adjust each other like two gears.

Optical atomic clocks are considered the future standard of time measurement, but this research shows that nuclear clocks can provide more accurate results in the future and be a suitable alternative to accurate time measurement systems due to their greater stability against environmental factors.

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization emphasized in the commemoration ceremony of the National Standard Day that Iran is on par with developed countries in nuclear science and technology, and the pressure of foreigners cannot distort the country's scientific power.

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization criticized America's dual approach to nuclear technology and announced: Why does America consider nuclear technology permissible for itself and prohibited for Iran? He continued: In addition to nuclear facilities, recent attacks have also targeted Iran's radiation centers, petrochemical industries, and research centers.

On the sidelines of the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran introduced the latest achievements and capacities of the country in the field of medical plasma, diagnostic, therapeutic and palliative radiopharmaceuticals and technical and engineering services.