Timekeeping has reached a milestone with the introduction of the Aether Clock OC 020, an optical lattice clock developed by Japanese manufacturer Shimadzu Corp.
Marketed as the most accurate timepiece in the world, this cutting-edge innovation carries a price tag exceeding $3 million. Unlike traditional clocks, the Aether Clock OC 020 is designed with an unassuming, refrigerator-like appearance—standing about three feet tall with a 250-liter volume. However, despite its modest look, its precision is unparalleled, deviating by only a second over 10 billion years. This makes it 100 times more accurate than cesium atomic clocks, which currently define the international standard for a second.
Optical lattice clocks have long been a focus of scientific research, but the Aether Clock OC 020 stands apart as the first commercially available model. Shimadzu Corp highlighted its user-friendly design: “Conventional optical lattice clocks required frequent and complicated adjustment work, but this product significantly reduces the burden on workers.” The compact nature of the clock enhances its portability, enabling its application in gravitational potential measurements through Einstein’s general theory of relativity. It could be crucial in monitoring geological activities, such as tectonic plate shifts and volcanic movements, with centimeter-level accuracy.
Shimadzu Corp recently commenced sales of the Aether Clock OC 020, securing its first purchase at an impressive $3.3 million. With research institutions as the primary target audience, the company aspires to sell at least ten units within the next three years.
“Laser-cooled atoms are trapped in an optical lattice, and the clock transitions are spectroscopically analyzed with high precision in a cryogenically cooled thermostatic chamber,” the company elaborated.
The system incorporates a physics package comprising a vacuum chamber for clock spectroscopy, an optical resonator, and a sophisticated laser control system.
