A powerful laser shines into a jet of gas, creating a bright plasma and generating ultraviolet light. The light leaves a visible white line as it interacts with leftover gas in the vacuum chamber. This process helps scientists precisely measure the energy needed to excite the thorium-229 nucleus, which is the core of a future nuclear clock. Photo: Chuankun Zhang/JILA
A powerful laser shines into a jet of gas, creating a bright plasma and generating ultraviolet light. The light leaves a visible white line as it interacts with leftover gas in the vacuum chamber. This process helps scientists precisely measure the energy needed to excite the thorium-229 nucleus, which is the core of a future nuclear clock. Photo: Chuankun Zhang/JILA
A powerful laser shines into a jet of gas, creating a bright plasma and generating ultraviolet light. The light leaves a visible white line as it interacts with leftover gas in the vacuum chamber. This process helps scientists precisely measure the energy needed to excite the thorium-229 nucleus, which is the core of a future nuclear clock. Photo: Chuankun Zhang/JILA
A powerful laser shines into a jet of gas, creating a bright plasma and generating ultraviolet light. The light leaves a visible white line as it interacts with leftover gas in the vacuum chamber. Thi

Scientists discover 'key ingredients' for first nuclear clock


Neil Murphy
  • English
  • Arabic

Scientists say they have found the 'key ingredients' to create the first nuclear clock which could advance understanding of time and fundamental physics.

A nuclear clock is a theoretical timekeeping device that measures signals from the nucleus of an atom to provide its 'ticks'.

Although its potential excites scientists, until now it has not been replicated owing to the difficulty of measuring the energy jumps within a nucleus using current technology.

Researchers at JILA, a joint institute of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado Boulder, were able to utilise a ultraviolet laser to precisely measure the frequency of an energy jump in thorium nuclei embedded in a solid crystal.

While this laboratory demonstration is not a fully developed nuclear clock, it contains all the core technology for one, the scientists say.

“We used a laser referenced to the most precise atomic clock to excite the nucleus of thorium atoms and measure the absolute frequency of the nuclear transition”, researchers told The National.

They added that the measurement was “a million times more precise than previous experiments”.

The research has already yielded unprecedented results, including the ability to observe details in the thorium nucleus's shape that no one had ever observed before. Researchers liken this to seeing individual blades of grass from an aircraft.

A strontium atomic clock, one of the world's most accurate time-keeping pieces in the lab of Professor Jun Ye at the University of Colorado, in Boulder. AFP
A strontium atomic clock, one of the world's most accurate time-keeping pieces in the lab of Professor Jun Ye at the University of Colorado, in Boulder. AFP

Atomic clocks are used to configure international time and play major roles in technologies such as GPS, internet synchronisation, and financial transactions.

Nuclear clocks are generally thought to be more precise than atomic clocks, which measure time by tuning laser light to frequencies that cause electrons to jump between energy levels.

The development of nuclear clocks could mean even more precise navigation systems, faster internet speeds, more reliable network connections and more secure digital communications.

“Imagine a wristwatch that wouldn't lose a second even if you left it running for billions of years,” said NIST and JILA physicist Jun Ye. “While we're not quite there yet, this research brings us closer to that level of precision.”

Scientists focused on thorium-229, an atom whose nucleus has a smaller energy jump than any other known atom, requiring ultraviolet light, which is lower in energy than X-rays.

“Since a nuclear clock is based on a nuclear transition within an atom's nucleus as opposed to an electron transition occurring in the atom's electron shell, nuclear clocks can be less sensitive to issues such as electric magnetic fields”, the researchers added.

“Another simple reason is that the frequency of the thorium nuclear transition is higher than most atomic clock frequencies – in general, a clock that ticks faster is able to measure time with more precision.”

Nuclear clocks could further improve tests of fundamental theories for how the universe works, potentially leading to new discoveries in physics.

For example, they could help detect dark matter or verify if the constants of nature are truly constant, allowing for verification of theories in particle physics without the need for large-scale particle accelerator facilities.

Despite the exciting breakthrough, researchers believe that it would take some time for a nuclear clock to surpass the world's best atomic clocks, adding that both were complimentary to each other, especially when it comes to studying fundamental physics.

The biog

Name: Sarah Al Senaani

Age: 35

Martial status: Married with three children - aged 8, 6 and 2

Education: Masters of arts in cultural communication and tourism

Favourite movie: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin

Favourite hobbies: Art and horseback ridding

Occupation: Communication specialist at a government agency and the owner of Atelier

Favourite cuisine: Definitely Emirati - harees is my favourite dish

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Racecard

6.35pm: American Business Council – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m 

7.10pm: British Business Group – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,200m 

7.45pm: CCI France UAE – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m 

8.20pm: Czech Business Council – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,400m 

8.55pm: Netherlands Business Council – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m 

9.30pm: Indian Business and Professional Council – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m  

How to turn your property into a holiday home
  1. Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
  2. Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
  3. Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
  4. Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
  5. Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
Updated: September 04, 2024, 6:13 PM`