Ultraprecise atomic clocks put Einstein’s special relativity to the test
An experiment tested a foundational principle of physics known as Lorentz symmetry
The ticktock of two ultraprecise clocks has proven Einstein right, once again.
A pair of atomic clocks made of single ions of ytterbium kept pace with one another over six months, scientists report March 13 in Nature. The timepieces’ reliability supports a principle known as Lorentz symmetry. That principle was the foundation for Einstein’s special theory of relativity, which describes the physics of voyagers dashing along at nearly the speed of light.
Lorentz symmetry states that the rules of physics should remain the same whether you’re standing still or moving at a breakneck speed, and no matter what direction you’re facing (SN: 7/8/17, p. 14). The clocks kept up with one another as the Earth rotated, confirming that idea.