London: The UK is gearing up for the quantum timekeeping race after the creation of Britain’s first quantum clock was spearheaded by the Ministry of Defence. The intricate device, unveiled as being in the work at a secret laboratory, is expected to lose or gain no more than one second in 100 million years.
Comprising energy level transitions of atoms with specific frequencies and not timekeeping devices, the quantum clock is a breakthrough in the British defence system. Unlike normal watches that can sometimes go out of time because of various conditions such as heat or cold, quantum clocks are built using concepts of quantum mechanics, which are accurate to the highest level.
‘One of them is military navigation that can be enhanced by this technology and be less reliant on the vulnerable GPS platforms,” according to Dr. Sarah Matthews, the SciTech unit head and the representative of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
It occurs at a time when countries all over the world are covering the quantum technology market. The United States launched the field approximately 15 years ago by the University of Colorado in conjunction with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Others, and China in particular, have since embarked on research on quantum; globally, private and public investment in the area stood at $20 billion over the last five years.
The British Ministry of Quantum Technology is expected to come online within five years: besides mass production, there is also the concept of microproduction. Military vehicles and aeroplanes will bear the technology improving Britain’s defences at a time when even microseconds can cause massive damage to cyber protection and other systems requiring high accuracy in timing.
The importance of quantum timekeeping does not end with the military. It is used in satellite navigation systems, mobile networks, or even digital broadcasting. It also paves the way to new frontiers in quantum science where accuracy is of its essence.
Analysts said it could help make Britain the leader in quantum technology, a field that has the potential to revolutionise the material world. The project fits the global trend of growing interest in quantum science, as seen from such recent events as the recent quantum computing by Google and the recent Nobel Awards to quantum mechanics scientists in 2022.
Ministry of Defence claiming that this will enhance technological independence belonging to Britain, especially at a time when the so-called ‘regular’ GPS is susceptible to jamming and interference by the hostile parties.
They say this accomplishment can also be viewed as a shift in the global battle for quantum supremacy, a new military-technical revolution, where the ability to determine time with high accuracy can become critical in future applications.
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