Quantum clocks are off by less than 1 second over billions of years

The British Ministry of Defense announced on January 2 that the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory is developing Britain’s first quantum clock to help the military enhance intelligence and reconnaissance activities. This clock is so precise that it will deviate by less than a second over billions of years, allowing scientists to measure time on an unprecedented scale.

“The testing of this cutting-edge technology not only enhances our operational capabilities, but also promotes progress in industry, strengthens the scientific sector and supports high-level jobs,” said the State Secretary. Minister of Defense Procurement Maria Eagle said. Quantum clocks would help reduce reliance on GPS technology, which can be blocked or disrupted by adversaries.

This is not the first time in the world that quantum clocks have been developed. University of Colorado Boulder, USA, developed a quantum clock with the US National Institute of Standards and Technology 15 years ago. However, this is the first device of its kind to be built in the UK and the army could deploy it in the next five years.

Quantum clocks use quantum mechanics – the physical processes of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic level – to calculate time with unprecedented precision by measuring energy fluctuations. amount inside an atom. Accurate time measurement is essential for satellite navigation systems, mobile phones, digital TVs and many other applications, and can open up new horizons in research areas such as quantum science.

Companies and governments around the world are excited to exploit the huge potential benefits that quantum technology offers. Last month, Google unveiled a new quantum computer chip with the ability to handle in minutes problems that would take top supercomputers 10 million billion billion years.

The US and China are investing heavily in quantum research. The US also imposes strict restrictions on the export of this sensitive technology. Expert Olivier Ezratty said in October that public and private investment in this technology has reached 20 billion USD in the past 5 years.

According to the British Ministry of Defense, future research will help quantum clocks reduce in size, allowing for mass production and miniaturization, opening up a range of applications, for example for use in aircraft and military vehicles. .