Scientists have discovered a new method to enhance clock accuracy without increasing energy usage.
This breakthrough, detailed in Nature Physics, involves leveraging quantum particles' behavior for more efficient time measurement.
The research involved an international team from TU Wien, Chalmers University of Technology, and the University of Malta.
Atomic clocks, renowned for their precision, rely on atoms' vibrations to track time but face inherent quantum uncertainty.
Traditionally, higher clock precision required more energy, leading to increased disorder in the universe.
The new study proposes using dual time scales, akin to a clock's minute and second hands, to significantly boost accuracy without a substantial energy hike.
By employing quantum particles that move through a clock structure without disturbances, entropy-free quantum transport is utilized.
This allows for enhanced precision without immediate entropy increase until the particle is measured.
The method combines quick, entropy-free quantum motion with slower, entropy-generating steps to achieve unexpected precision gains.
The approach is testable with current technology like superconducting circuits, offering potential advancements in quantum experiments.
This advancement not only revolutionizes time measurement precision but also aids in understanding the quantum-thermodynamics relationship.
It signifies a significant step in quantum measurement science with implications for future technologies.