Singapore physicists build lutetium atomic clock accurate to 19 decimal places
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Physicists at the National University of Singapore have built an atomic clock based on lutetium-176 with accuracy confirmed to 19 decimal places. The device is 41% more precise than the previous record holder, according to a study published Sept. 23 in Nature. The International Bureau of Weights and Measures expects to revise the definition of the second in 2030.
Key Facts
- The new clock uses oscillations of lutetium-176 atoms and is accurate to 19 decimal places.
- The device is 41% more precise than the previous record holder.
- The results were published Sept. 23 in the journal Nature.
- Lutetium-176 is less sensitive to magnetic fields and temperature than elements used in previous ultra-precise clocks.
- The International Bureau of Weights and Measures expects to revise the definition of the second in 2030.
Clock Design
The clock measures time through oscillations of lutetium-176 atoms. Study co-author Murray Barrett, a physicist at the National University of Singapore, said the key task is ensuring the isotope's stability over a long period. A lutetium-176 clock continues to operate even when external temperature fluctuates by 5 degrees, whereas other elements may require temperature control within a few thousandths of a degree. The research team applied a hyperfine averaging method to reduce the impact of external factors, including magnetic and gravitational fields.
Redefining the Second
Since 1968, the second has been defined through radiation from the cesium-133 atom, with one second corresponding to 9.19 billion oscillations. The International Bureau of Weights and Measures expects to revise the definition of the second in 2030, taking modern atomic clocks into account. Ultra-precise instruments may also help researchers test whether fundamental physical constants remain unchanged.
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