NIST researchers have just shattered the previous record for the world’s most accurate clock, unveiling a quantum logic optical clock that measures time with unprecedented precision—down to the 19th decimal place. This breakthrough is the culmination of 20 years of development, leveraging the unique properties of an aluminum ion paired with a magnesium ion using advanced quantum computing techniques. The magnesium “buddy” makes it possible to control and measure the aluminum’s extraordinarily steady “ticks,” establishing new benchmarks for both accuracy and stability.
Achieving this level of precision required a complete redesign of the clock’s core components, from engineering a new ion trap with improved electrical balance and thicker gold coatings, to rebuilding the vacuum chamber out of titanium—reducing background interference and greatly extending experiment durations. The NIST team also collaborated with leading laser physicists to integrate one of the world’s most stable lasers, drastically shortening the time required to reach peak measurement accuracy.
This new clock isn’t just a technical marvel—it’s a major leap forward in redefining the very definition of a second and opens exciting possibilities for scientific exploration. With the ability to perform ultra-precise timekeeping, the NIST quantum logic clock will help enable advances ranging from Earth science to probing new frontiers in quantum physics, and may even challenge our fundamental understanding of the natural constants that govern the universe.
Read the full article on the NIST website.