Storing time from a quantum stopwatch with qubits – instead of losing accuracy by stopping and starting it – could give us the ultimate precision in timekeeping
To measure time with extreme precision, go quantumNoridzuan Mahfok/EyeEm/GettyBy Anil AnanthaswamyA quantum stopwatch that measures time by avoiding all except one final measurement would be the most accurate allowed by nature, suggests a new study.
To measure the time taken by a series of events, an everyday classical stopwatch measures the elapsed time for each event and adds them up. Each individual measurement does not disturb a classical clock.
That’s not the case with a quantum clock. If you were to stop and restart a quantum stopwatch, effectively introducing measurements, you’d disturb the fragile quantum state and …
