Innovative technology is flying out of the lab. The British government has announced that a top-secret quantum clock developed by the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) will be deployed across all armed forces over the next five years.
There was a time when atomic clocks looked very attractive. By measuring time based on the frequency of cesium-133 atoms, scientists were able to build clocks that would gain or lose just one second every 300 million years. But compared to quantum clocks, atomic clocks are about as accurate as a $1 antique pocket watch that has been hit a few times with a coal hammer.
By measuring how atoms move between specific energy states, quantum clocks reach an accuracy of one second every 30 billion years. That’s 1 billion with a “b”. ”
This is a technology with a lot of potential, and the British military is keen to take advantage of it as soon as possible, as modern warfare can be scheduled to nanoseconds.
There are many applications for quantum clocks and to achieve these, Dstl is carrying out the UK’s first trials outside the laboratory and working on how to miniaturize the technology and integrate it into existing military systems.
According to a press release, the new quantum clock can be used to run an alternative to GPS that can provide the same positioning accuracy even when the GPS signal is jammed or spoofed. It can also be used to secure communications with highly synchronized timekeeping for high-level encryption. Weapon systems such as missiles are also much more accurate, able to respond in milliseconds, much faster than an attacker can react, allowing them to counter cyberattacks.
“The Navy has been focused on quantum technology for many years, and we are excited to see that the physics and engineering challenges in this field are no longer just scientific concepts, but are now reaching the pinnacle of reality,” Cmdr. said. Matt Steele, Head of Future Technology at the Royal Navy’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer, said: “Over the next few years, quantum will be used in conjunction with GPS to enable us to effectively operate, survive, navigate and become lethal.” You will be able to maintain a secure operational advantage.
Source: UK Government
