Atomic watches have meant a before and after in our ability to measure time in an outraged way. These types of watches are precise at such a level that some of the most exact ones would be discouraged in less than a second at the time in which the universe has been existing. Despite this, these watches are not precise enough to solve one of the most important unknowns in physics.
Closer to the nuclear clock. Now, however, we are a little closer to achieving a milestone that can open the door to solve this type of doubts, nuclear watches. These watches will allow us to advance several orders of magnitude in the creation of time measurement apparatus, ultra -precise watches to investigate the new physics.
From atomic to nuclear. The nomenclature can lead to confusion, and when we talk about atomic watches and nuclear watches we are not talking about the same technology. While the mechanism of atomic watches depends on the state of excitation of the atom electrons; In nuclear watches, it depends on the particles in nucleus. As its name indicates.
Atomic watches depend on the transitions in the state of their electrons. When they absorb energy, they can “jump” in their state. Jumps that can be reversed, only when this occurs, it is the electron that emits energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation.
Something similar occurs in the nucleus of atoms, only that, being the most isolated nucleus of other physical interactions external to the atom, the transitions of their subatomic particles would be even more precise and reliable than those that occur in the atomic “shell” formed by electrons.
Torio-229. To make a nuclear clock work, we also need to transfer energy to the atom, to its nucleus, of course. When we hit the nucleus with a specific frequency of electromagnetic radiation, we can change its energy state, as if it were a switch. Nuclear watches, such as atomic, would only have to tell the energy changes in this context.
The problem is that causing these jumps in the atomic nucleus is also more difficult. The main difficulty is to excite atomic nuclei enough to cause the “jumps.” To do this we must hit these coherent X -rays nuclei, a high frequency X -ray type and therefore high energy. So much that, in general we do not have the necessary instruments to produce them.
“In general”. And, as with electrons, not all these “jumps” require the same energy. Almost half a century ago, some researchers realized that the atomic nuclei of the Torio-229 (229th) isotope had a jump that required the energy equivalent to that of ultraviolet light. When requiring less energy, building a laser capable of transferring energy to the nucleus, it became something feasible.
Half a century of work. The “nuclear transition” of the Torio was discovered in 1976. But that was just the beginning. And it would not be until 2016 that we would observe and measure it. Measure it is key, since if we want to force the transition we must know the exact frequency with which we have to “bombard” the atomic nucleus of this isotope to be able to force it and activate the process.
How close are we really? A few months ago, a group of researchers tested some of the key elements behind this technology, which allows us to get an idea of how close we are to be able to create a nuclear clock based on 229th.
The team tested an ultraviolet laser capable of creating precise energy to force jumps in the state of the nucleus. He also studied a “frequency grid” to directly measure these jumps. In addition, they also studied the transition from Torio-229.
The details of the study were published in an article in the magazine Nature.
From dark matter to universal constants. And all this for what? Do we really need more precise watches than atomic? The truth is that this new technology would have important benefits, first for the scientific community, but also for all citizens.
These watches can help us improve technologies such as GPS and other navigation systems; And also global Internet synchronization, also making the connection faster and safer communications.
We would also open the door to more precise measurements that help us clarify some of the mysteries that persecute physicists such as dark matter. Perhaps more importantly, these watches could help us develop experiments that solve one of the most important doubts of physics, that of whether universal constants are really constant and do not change depending on factors such as the age of the universe or the frame of reference in which we find ourselves, as we until now assume.
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Imagen | NSIT
