Core Insights - Beijing Quantum Information Science Research Institute announced a significant breakthrough in continuous wave vacuum ultraviolet light sources, overcoming the last core bottleneck in the development of nuclear optical clocks [1] - The research results open new pathways for quantum precision measurement and have been published in the renowned academic journal "Nature" [1] Group 1: Breakthrough Details - The nuclear optical clock, which replaces electronic transitions with nuclear transitions, is less sensitive to environmental disturbances and offers high precision, strong resistance to environmental interference, and potential for portability and engineering [1] - The breakthrough involved achieving 148 nanometer continuous wave output and reducing the linewidth by nearly six orders of magnitude, addressing the light source issue for nuclear optical clocks [1] Group 2: Applications and Industry Impact - The results can be applied in quantum precision measurement research and serve quantum information-related experiments, potentially enhancing the resilience of key links in the semiconductor industry chain [2] - The research team, with an average age of under 30, is seen as a core force driving innovation, and there is an expectation for society to assign more responsibilities to young researchers to achieve original breakthroughs and disruptive results [2]

Core Insights - A young research team in Beijing has successfully generated continuous laser at a wavelength of 148 nanometers, overcoming the final core bottleneck in the development of nuclear optical clocks, and has expanded ultra-stable laser technology into the vacuum ultraviolet range [1][3][4] Group 1: Research Breakthrough - The achievement allows for a significant advancement in human precision time measurement capabilities [1] - The research team, led by Tsinghua University associate professor Ding Shiqian, has made the first international breakthrough in producing 148 nanometer continuous wave laser [4] - The team consists of members with an average age of under 30, showcasing strong theoretical foundations and independent working abilities [4] Group 2: Technical Details - The principle of atomic clocks relies on the outer electron transitions of atoms, which are sensitive to electromagnetic field environments, affecting timing precision [3] - Nuclear optical clocks, based on the excitation state energy of thorium-229, are less sensitive to external influences, allowing for improved portability and measurement precision [3][4] - The successful generation of the laser was achieved using four-wave mixing technology in cadmium vapor at approximately 600 degrees Celsius, with no noise interference observed [4] Group 3: Future Prospects - The research team aims to further optimize the laser output quality and reduce the size of the laser system, potentially to the size of a computer case [5] - The developed laser source platform could serve various applications, including new navigation systems, quantum precision measurement research, quantum information experiments, and semiconductor chip testing [5]