Fresh Science

Dr Magdalena Zych – ARC DECRA Fellowship, University of Queensland

Better quantum computers with atomic clocks and quantum chickens

The next generation of atomic clocks, important for GPS location and precise timekeeping, look set to become even more accurate thanks to University of Queensland research.

Researcher Dr Magdalena Zych has produced a new approach to reconcile the effect of gravity and quantum states. Quantum mechanics and gravity are usually incompatible.

“Our discovery means the chicken and egg can each be first and second at the same time, and that one doesn’t have to be there before the other,” she explains.

The University of Queensland approach, or model, is one of a kind and will be implemented with collaborators in the United States of America within the next year to increase the accuracy of the next generation of devices.

“Our development will initially focus on high accuracy timekeeping, for example for GPS,” says Dr Zych.  “But it has other applications, including to our fundamental understanding of time, space and quantum computing.”

Written by Dr Magdalena Zych and edited by Econnect Communication.