A Quantum of Time
Time is the unit we use to measure the duration of events, but it is also a concept we created to make sense of change.
Stephen Hawking, Astrophysicist
Physikalisch- Technische Bundesanstalt – Research on Time and Frequency
Time is fascinating. The longer we explore its many facets, the more our idea of what is possible and impossible begins to shift. When asked what time actually is, Stephen Hawking gave an answer similar to that of the ancient Greeks, who distinguished between Chronos and Kairos. Chronos refers to measurable, physical time – the ticking of a clock or the turning of the calendar. Kairos, on the other hand, describes a defining moment, a turning point. Much like in our post-pandemic world, there is often a “before” and an “after.” In the context of climate change, humanity now finds itself in such a Kairos moment, one that calls for new questions and new answers to global challenges.
In quantum physics, time is treated differently than in classical physics. Quantum theory introduces the idea of the smallest possible units of time — “quanta of time.” These are so unimaginably small that they cannot be measured directly. Still, they play an important role in explaining phenomena such as the uncertainty between energy and position.
Podcast Recommendation
Time is divided into units so that we can measure it precisely. Seconds, minutes, and hours give structure to our daily lives — they tell us, for example, when it’s time to go to school. But how did people measure time before clocks were invented? Do all clocks tell exactly the same time? These and other exciting questions are answered by the engineer Michael Kazda, who works at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt in Braunschweig.
A podcast by the Haus der Wissenschaft Braunschweig. These and many other exciting questions are answered by engineer Michael Kazda from the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt in Braunschweig, home to Germany’s most accurate atomic clock.
With Jan, Nils, Jonathan, Christoph, and Tristan.
A podcast by the House of Science Braunschweig.
Research Questions
In the ForschungRegion, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) deals with Chronos time. It develops atomic clocks and has a quantum technology competence center.
Regarding research and questions:
