Science & Technology

Clock based on single atom developed

By T.K. Randall
January 13, 2013 ·  2 comments

Image Credit: sxc.hu Scientists developed the device based on several principles including Einstein's Theory of Relativity and the Broglie's matter-wave hypothesis which suggests that matter can behave like waves. To tell the time, it was necessary to measure the regular oscillations in a single particle of matter, a feat that was achieved using time dilation.

"We have demonstrated that you can make a clock from a single massive particle," said researcher Justin Brown. The newly developed clock doesn't keep time as well as more conventional modern atomic clocks but it can nonetheless keep time with a degree of accuracy similar to the first atomic clocks 60 years ago.

Source: Discovery News | Comments (2)

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