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Russian Scientists Build Ultra-Precise Nuclear Clocks | MEPhI Innovations | Rosatom
Sep 24, 2025
Russian Rosatom scientists at MEPhI are creating a new standard for time measurement with ultra-precise nuclear clocks based on Thorium-229 and krypton cryocrystals. These clocks will be more stable, compact, and accurate than current atomic clocks, opening doors to advanced navigation systems, quantum sensors, and studies of electromagnetic and gravitational fields.
Alongside, MEPhI is advancing plasma physics, thermonuclear fusion research, and superconducting magnetic levitation systems. The university’s experiments involve vacuum light guides, high-energy lasers, and frictionless bearings, pushing the limits of energy, temperature, and precision.
MEPhI collaborates internationally with universities in Mexico, Chile, China, and Brazil, as well as with Rosatom, Dubna, and the Kurchatov Institute, making it a global hub of innovative physics research.
#NuclearClock #MEPhI #PhysicsInnovation #Superconducting #MagneticLevitation #ThermonuclearFusion #QuantumSensors #RussianScience #HighTechResearch
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0:03
[Music]
0:11
Russian scientists
0:12
create a new standard for measuring time
0:14
in this installation. They will grow
0:16
cryo crystal to create ultra precise the
0:19
nuclear clock not to be confused with
0:22
atomic ones which are currently the
0:23
standard in the world. The device at MI
0:25
according to scientists will be even
0:27
more accurate, stable and compact.
0:32
Doctor of physical and mathematical
0:34
sciences Ptor Borisuk says that to make
0:36
a nuclear clock in some sense more
0:38
difficult than a quantum computer as a
0:40
conditional pendulum energy transition
0:42
of an atomic nucleus.
0:46
If you take the nucleus or 229 irradiate
0:49
it with the help of this laser based on
0:51
a krypton cryo crystal and tune this
0:54
cryo crystal to the energy of the
0:56
nuclear transition then in fact you have
0:58
the opportunity to create a nuclear
1:00
clock based on this system. Lazarus
1:03
optimized for nuclear transitions.
1:07
The nucleus inside the atom is protected
1:09
from external influences by electrons
1:11
which means that the clock will be
1:13
fantastically accurate. The equipment is
1:15
almost installed. Experiments will begin
1:17
soon. Toic will be located here inside
1:20
the vacuum chamber. There's a special
1:22
vacuum thing here for that. This allows
1:24
me to conditionally attach the
1:25
tudatorium sample, pull it out, secure
1:28
it with a screw. If I just need to set
1:30
up the laser radiation, stick it back in
1:33
there and already irradiate this Taurus
1:35
sample of generation that's going on his
1:38
krypton crystal.
1:41
Mephi has the only laboratory in Russia
1:43
for creating nuclear clocks. Europeans
1:45
and Americans also conduct their
1:47
research using zenon gas instead of
1:49
krypton. However, the Russian approach
1:51
is more economical and inventive.
1:54
Nuclear clocks will not only be able to
1:56
tell time but also become the basis for
1:58
a new system of navigation, quantum
2:00
sensors, electromagnetic and
2:01
gravitational fields of the earth.
2:04
We're at the frontier of scientific
2:05
thought like for example in these
2:07
studies on the nuclear purity standard
2:09
based on uh transitions to isotopitorium
2:12
229 there until 2000 which can be worn
2:15
on the arm still very far away. But this
2:18
is a very important story because
2:21
innovative time standards unlock future
2:24
possibilities
2:26
and applied technologies of PK to new
2:28
fundamental problems associated with the
2:30
search for dark matter with the
2:32
disclosure of unknown mysteries of
2:33
space.
2:35
As for cosmic mysteries, this is for
2:37
young scientists. It is they who have
2:39
already assembled the so-called light
2:41
guide 15 m tube inside which will rush
2:44
with a focused laser beam.
2:46
This is called the vacuum spatial filter
2:49
of the main amplifier of the ELF laser
2:52
complex. You have come to us several
2:54
times and see the stages of creating
2:56
this complex and you started with an
2:58
empty hall this spring. There was just a
3:01
set of structural elements here. Now we
3:04
have fully assembled this space filters.
3:06
It is needed in order to clear the high
3:08
power radiation from various noises of
3:11
operations. And the beam in the focus of
3:13
the main lens will give such energy and
3:15
power what allows the matter to create
3:18
temperatures of more than 100 million
3:20
degrees and pressures as in the center
3:22
of a star.
3:24
ELF experimental laser physical
3:26
installation will allow to study the
3:29
substance in extreme states. For
3:30
example, for the aerospace industry
3:32
where technology must withstand huge
3:34
loads and also on ELF, it will be
3:37
possible to conduct experiments to help
3:39
scientists in Sarof where they are
3:41
preparing to ignite plasma pellets from
3:43
nuclei of bacterium and tritium to start
3:45
controlled fusion.
3:49
[Music]
3:52
This is called vacuum hygiene. Before
3:54
the laser rushes into the pipe, the air
3:56
is pumped out of it and it will no
3:58
longer be possible to get inside and the
4:01
light guide must be perfectly clean.
4:03
[Music]
4:05
When pumping out the wedding, it is very
4:07
important that there was not even a thin
4:09
layer, so the entire pipe is washed with
4:10
alcohol.
4:12
Mikail Dudelin has been doing L for 3
4:14
years. Recently, together with his
4:16
classmates, he marked the entire hall
4:18
with markers to digitize the space for
4:20
perfect accurate assembly. He says he's
4:22
easily given the physics of high energy
4:24
densities, but experiments are more
4:26
interesting than theory.
4:29
These are the caps that cover the
4:31
magnets where the special element is
4:33
placed and we digitized all this space
4:36
and the whole system that allows the
4:37
laser to work now especially us accurate
4:40
to 110 of a millimeter. Next year we
4:43
will already have a fully integrated
4:45
complex and we should enter the stages
4:46
of descent.
4:48
That is I think 27 years will be a year
4:50
of experimentation.
4:54
While Andre's net of students are
4:55
preparing for the launch of ELF VI
4:57
Superconductor Research Hub, a full
4:59
class of school children is thoroughly
5:01
captivated by the wonders of magnetic
5:03
levitation during their visit to the
5:05
university. Such educational trips occur
5:07
quite often. In the summer, we took off
5:09
the supply train. The height of the
5:11
entire system has not changed at all.
5:13
How did he stand on those stands? So, he
5:16
hovered in the air at exactly the same
5:17
height. and now moves along our rails
5:19
absolutely without any coach. In such a
5:22
cumulative
5:22
energy chilled with liquid nitrogen and
5:25
assisted by superconducting ribbons that
5:27
repel external magnetic fields enables a
5:30
metallic platform to glide over magnetic
5:32
tracks without resistance, paving the
5:34
way for futuristic levitating train
5:36
systems. While costly, the potential
5:39
outcomes are transformative.
5:41
I think accelerate to
5:44
speeds. An airplane for example 600 700
5:47
km/h we could put all this in some pipe
5:50
pump out the air create a torch and we
5:51
would accelerate it there to speeds well
5:53
more there up to 1,000 km/h for example
5:57
innovative solutions for the mechanisms
5:59
of the future here are developing a
6:01
superconducting bearing that never he
6:03
will erase as if floating in a magnetic
6:06
field without touching the fixed parts
6:08
of the mechanism which will be able to
6:10
work quickly if not forever then for a
6:12
very very long time.
6:16
Cold to the touch. This ring does not
6:18
shift even a millimeter. If you press on
6:20
it, you only need to add liquid nitrogen
6:23
because the superconductor wrapped tube
6:25
quickly heats up. But in general, quite
6:27
working technology.
6:30
In a normal bearing,
6:31
there are rotating spheres which touch.
6:34
The bearing is able to work without
6:36
friction due to the levitation effect.
6:38
Superconductors are able to capture a
6:40
magnetic field and not just capture but
6:43
also maintain this configuration of the
6:45
field in which they have cooled and
6:49
they preserve this field arrangement and
6:52
resist alterations forming a system that
6:54
remains stable against shifts and
6:56
vibrations because there's an absence of
6:58
friction. There's no wear allowing such
7:01
bearings to last significantly longer
7:04
without requiring repairs or
7:06
replacements.
7:07
Dear students, here look at this
7:09
kamakitoidal chamber with magnetic coils
7:12
which is the main part of the
7:13
international project and tr
7:15
thermonuclear reactor of the future.
7:17
Also it would seem that there should be
7:19
no friction inside the bagel as the
7:21
tokamak is called. Scientists will fly a
7:24
plasma cord that holds magnetic fields
7:27
but the temperature is so high that the
7:29
so-called first takamak wall needs to be
7:32
protected from it says yaroslavsovski
7:34
associate professor of plasma physics.
7:37
What exactly?
7:38
That's when you have now abandoned
7:40
recession or and now they will do
7:42
burnization there. Cover it with such
7:44
selection so that the top layer is
7:46
sprayed precisely with boron. But in our
7:48
T2 maca in T2 Memphis, we can try
7:50
something with liquid casting and maybe
7:52
it will give some a groundbreaking
7:55
advancement for the thermonuclear
7:56
industry at large.
8:00
Note that fist answers Stephan. He is an
8:02
engineer and physicist. Hence the
8:04
talking inscription on the t-shirt.
8:06
Scientists are really looking for
8:08
answers to non-standard questions that
8:10
arise when working at the university's
8:11
Takoma training facility. The solution
8:14
has to be found by improvising here and
8:16
now.
8:18
The the main thing is that we kind of
8:20
did this uh launched a project of remote
8:23
laboratory work for university students
8:25
in the country and around the world.
8:28
uh one online talk show open in which
8:30
students from the Catholic University of
8:33
Chile took part. Now we have
8:35
demonstration work going on for
8:37
colleagues from Mexico.
8:41
Researchers at the University of Noi
8:42
Valley in Mexico aimed to construct an
8:45
educational takamax similar to me.
8:47
seeking guidance from our experts.
8:50
[Music]
8:51
They wrote directly that they had been
8:53
thinking for a long time between making
8:55
a conditional bow to ceay or befriending
8:58
us. And at the moment they are choosing
9:00
nations of which we are very proud.
9:04
The project has already been approved by
9:06
the Russian Ministry of Education and
9:08
the team from the university will fly to
9:10
Mexico this year. In the meantime,
9:11
scientists communicate online for hours.
9:15
We want to
9:16
presenting our Takamak preionization
9:18
system alongside demonstrations of
9:20
plasma behavior with various
9:22
modifications.
9:23
Only Mac has been the central player
9:25
throughout this entire Vichans period
9:27
bit.
9:28
Yeah. What's the time between one pulse
9:30
and another in a tokamac?
9:32
Ah certainly the sequence of events
9:34
time is limited by two factors. The
9:36
first is the rate at which we can charge
9:39
the capacitor banks and the second is
9:41
the heating of our central solenoid.
9:44
The secondary limitation arises from the
9:47
center inductor's salt induced
9:49
overheating. Why did she depart? We saw
9:52
a video of you and your team working
9:54
with Väinoid.
9:57
This is the newest solenoid you're
9:59
working on on Meista.
10:01
You're the target
10:03
now. We decided to develop a new one
10:05
with water cooling.
10:08
International scientific interaction
10:10
continuous. Despite the political
10:12
turbulence, the experience of Russian
10:13
scientists is appreciated all over the
10:15
world.
10:17
Well, it is still the leader among all
10:19
Russian universities in terms of the
10:21
number of international experiments in
10:22
which we participate. We have of course
10:25
intensified cooperation in various areas
10:27
with leading Chinese universities. But
10:29
separately, we are interested when our
10:31
partners in Brazil, Mexico, Egypt in
10:33
particular are also like this. We
10:36
discussed projects when they were
10:37
interested for example in some of our
10:39
methodologies.
10:40
Developments are associated for example
10:42
with the study of the physics of
10:43
thermonuclear fusion implement it into
10:45
your practices make network programs and
10:48
sometimes it is possible even to
10:49
purchase our equipment
10:52
in the field of thermonuclear research
10:54
MF as a flagship university of Rosatom
10:57
cooperates with the joint institute for
10:59
nuclear research in Dubna the khatov
11:01
institute the federal nuclear center in
11:03
Sarov not to mention the international
11:04
project etc in the French kadarache
11:07
which cannot be implemented without our
11:09
country's physicists experimenters and
11:11
theorists, researchers and engineers
11:13
capable of bringing the future closer
11:17
in every innovative project of MIF and
11:19
young scientists. More and more future
11:21
physics is hot plasma in a tokamak. The
11:24
use of a superconducting bearing, the
11:26
use of magnetic levitation, the
11:28
uniqueness of these developments has yet
11:30
to be assessed.
11:32
Like the nuclear clock which after
11:34
creation will count the reference time
11:36
the time of science.
11:40
[Music]