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Developed at Wuhan University, the smallest atomic clock in the world measures 2.3 cm³, has a precision of one second every 30 thousand years, and has already begun to be sold, with applications in drones, satellites, underwater navigation, and military communication
Small fractions of time can decide military operations, and China is betting on this with the mass production of the smallest atomic clock in the world, created at Wuhan University, measuring 2.3 cm³ and with a precision of one second every 30 thousand years.
Smallest atomic clock in the world
The new atomic clock was developed by a team led by Professor Chen Jiehua from the Satellite Navigation and Positioning Technology Research Center at Wuhan University, according to Changjiang Daily.
The device has performance comparable to advanced models. Still, it occupies less than one-seventh of the volume of similar devices in the United States, which can reach 17 cm³.
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Miniaturization is significant in military and navigation applications. In systems with drones, missiles, and satellites, delays can affect synchronization between equipment and compromise actions.
Limits of traditional models
Chen stated that traditional atomic clocks face physical barriers to being reduced.
According to him, even when miniaturized, these models have a minimum volume of several hundred cubic centimeters.
The professor also highlighted that the minimum energy consumption of these devices remains at least several watts.
This situation complicates the adoption of smaller solutions, with lower energy consumption and greater integration.
How the technology works
The advancement of the Chinese team replaces the technique based on microwave cavities with a method called coherent population trapping.
In this system, a cell with alkaline atoms, such as rubidium, interacts with a modulated semiconductor laser.
This laser generates two frequencies. When they correspond to the energy difference between atomic states, a “dark state” is formed, in which the atoms cease to absorb light and produce a stable optical signal.
This signal is used as a time reference. The adoption of compact lasers and microfabricated cells has allowed the integration of the system on a chip scale, reducing the size of the atomic clock and energy consumption.
Chen said that the team has achieved mass production of atomic clocks on a chip scale. According to him, the technology has been applied in micro-PNT, in underwater BeiDou, in low-orbit satellites, and drone swarms.
Production, sales, and obstacles
To enable production, the team created the company Taifs (Wuhan) Technology Co., with support from the state-owned Yangtze River Industry Group. According to Changjiang Daily, hundreds of units were sold in 2024.
Chen stated that, due to its size and low energy consumption, the product has broad market prospects.
Despite this, large-scale use faces obstacles related to high costs and the technical requirements of lasers.
Gou Fei stated that the Yangtze River Industry Group uses financial advantages and resources to help companies overcome key technical challenges in essential components and promote automated mass production, reducing costs.
Expected expansion
The expectation presented by the group is that, with cost reductions, the atomic clock will advance beyond military use.
Gou said that in the future, the technology should reach broad applications in military and civilian communication fields.
With information from O Globo.
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