Singapore researchers unveil lutetium-based atomic clock with unprecedented precision

A team led by Murray Barrett at the University of Singapore has created an atomic clock that relies on lutetium ions, delivering ten times the precision of the best existing clocks. By confining the ions in a vacuum chamber and using dual lasers to monitor electron transitions, the clock achieves a much higher oscillation frequency than cesium standards. Tests showed that a height variation of only five millimetres produces a measurable timing shift, illustrating the clock’s extraordinary sensitivity to gravity.

The researchers note that such precision could enhance satellite navigation, internet timing, and electrical grid stability, and might eventually allow monitoring of underground magma chambers or mineral deposits. The next step is to miniaturize the system for portable use. The findings were published in the journal Nature.