Show notes
Times have changed. And cesium clocks can't keep up.In this episode, we sit down with Jun Ye, Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA) Fellow and pioneer of optical lattice clocks, whose work has pushed timekeeping far beyond traditional cesium atomic clocks. Ye explains how combining ultra-stable lasers, frequency combs, and ultra-cold atoms produces clocks more than 100× more precise than today’s standards: so sensitive they can detect gravitational time dilation across the width of a human hair.We explore how this next generation of atomic clocks may open windows onto gravitational waves, test Einstein’s relativity in new regimes, and even help build a GPS for space travel. Ye also shares his personal journey from growing up during China’s Cultural Revolution to becoming a leader in precision measurement, and what that experience taught him about resilience, mentorship, and protecting scientific inquiry.Whether you’re curious about time, relativity, quantum physics, GPS technology, or the frontiers of precision measurement, this conversation offers a rare insider’s look at how breakthroughs in timekeeping can lead to entirely new physics.Follow us for more technical interviews with the world’s greatest scientists:Twitter: https://x.com/632nmPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/632nmpodcast?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/632nm/about/Substack: https://632nmpodcast.substack.com/Follow our hosts!Michael Dubrovsky: https://x.com/MikeDubrovskyMisha Shalaginov: https://x.com/MYShalaginovXinghui Yin: https://x.com/XinghuiYinSubscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/632nm/id1751170269Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4aVH9vT5qp5UUUvQ6Uf6ORWebsite: https://www.632nm.comTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:17 - Why Haven't Optical Clocks Replaced Cesium Clocks?10:45 - Fundamentals of Optical Atomic Clocks17:34 - History of Atomic Clocks30:18 - What is JILA?35:01 - What brought Jun to JILA?39:33 - What does it take to get a PhD in Physics?42:40 - Jun Ye's PhD work44:36 - Limitations of Laser Stabilization50:38 - How Do We Make the Most Stable Lasers?57:28 - How to Measure Laser Coherence Times1:04:24 - Building Atomic Clocks from First Principles1:08:59 - Jun's Notable Accomplishments1:14:00 - Magic Frequencies for Optical Traps1:21:04 - Can AI Improve Atomic Clocks?1:24:00 - How Does Quantum Entanglement Affect Clocks?1:30:29 - Development of Quantum Computers1:34:23 - Pros and Cons of Nuclear Clocks1:43:49 - What Would Jun Do With Unlimited Research Funding?1:47:09 - Lessons from China's Cultural Revolution#quantumcomputing #quantumphysics #atomicclock #laser #physics #optics #astrophysics #astronomy #spacetime