Scientists create nuclear clock based on thorium atomic nuclei

Two independent research groups from Vienna and Beijing have successfully developed the world's first nuclear clock using the thorium-229 isotope. Unlike traditional atomic clocks that rely on electronic transitions, this new technology utilizes oscillations within atomic nuclei. Researchers used a 148-nanometer laser to toggle thorium nuclei between two configurations, creating a highly precise timekeeping mechanism. While current prototypes are not yet as stable as the best atomic clocks, the development of feedback systems to stabilize the laser represents a significant breakthrough. Scientists note that the potential of nuclear clocks is immense, as they could eventually achieve unprecedented accuracy, losing only one second over several million years. The study results, published in the journal Nature, open new horizons in fundamental physics and metrology, bringing us closer to creating even more advanced tools for time measurement.