As astronomers try to see farther into the universe, building bigger telescopes is no longer enough. Instead, they link telescopes into synchronized networks that function as a single, much larger instrument. That approach depends on extraordinary time precision, which is why scientists at the University of Geneva, NASA and the European Space Agency are interested in the accuracy of Rolex's optical atomic clocks.
More than a year after Rolex Quantum's creation, we still know very little about the Neuchâtel-based subsidiary, except that it is emerging as the other face of a luxury brand famous for its iconic mechanical watches. Rolex Quantum, meanwhile, is pursuing the most precise clocks ever built in the history of humanity for the world's most advanced scientific applications. Coronet reported last year on Rolex's two-photon rubidium optical atomic clock, with accuracy up to 60 times greater than other atomic clocks.
Rolex said the idea to develop an optical atomic clock came from the need for a quality-control tool for its own precision-testing equipment after the launch of the new Superlative Chronometer certification in 2015.
Now, the same clock is undergoing a 27-month evaluation by the European Space Agency that could determine whether a clock developed by Rolex will one day help astronomers see deeper into space. Under the GOACE (Ground Optical Atomic Clock for Evaluation) project, engineers at ESA's technology center, ESTEC, in the Netherlands, are assessing its suitability for future space applications. The evaluation is expected to conclude in May 2028.