New optical atomic clock design combines single-ion accuracy with multi-ion stability

A new optical atomic clock design could merge single-ion accuracy with multi-ion stability. Researchers developed a multi-ion clock using ytterbium-173 ions, aiming to combine the precision of single ions with the enhanced stability of multiple ions. This innovation could impact timekeeping and quantum computing. This advancement builds on existing optical clock research and may offer new insights into nuclear physics and fundamental physics beyond the Standard Model.