preview image - Video: Laser clocks for global accuracy
preview image - Video: Laser clocks for global accuracy
The new laser clock from the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) has set a record for accuracy for future space clocks. In 30 million years, it would only be one second off. The quantum properties of iodine molecules in a gas cell set the rhythm of the optical clock. In future, space-qualified laser clocks should enable satellite navigation with centimetre precision and provide a global time standard.
Credit: DLR (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)