Ngesikhathi sephrojekthi eyaziwa ngokuthi I-Cold Atomic Clock Esikhaleni, eyenziwa iqembu lososayensi abavela eShanghai, eChina isanda kufaka umjikelezo lokho okubhabhadiswe njenge iwashi le-athomu elinembe kakhulu emhlabeni. Njengoba kushicilelwe ku- I-South China Morning PostSikhuluma ngohlelo olungabiza kakhulu kunewashi elisetshenziswa yiNyuvesi yaseColorado kanye neNational Institute of Standards and Technology e-United States.
Yini iwashi le-athomu? Njengoba kushiwo, sikhuluma ngedivayisi okufanele yenziwe kuphela ulahlekelwa umzuzwana njalo eminyakeni eyizigidi ezingama-30. Njengoba bekulindelekile, le divayisi entsha izoba nezicelo zomphakathi nezamasosha futhi izoklanyelwa ukwenza ngcono ukuhamba kwamaselula okuzayo okungaba okuqonde kakhulu kunalokho okutholwe yizinhlelo ezivamile ezisebenza nge-GPS. Ngakho konke lokhu, akumangazi ukuthi ukwakhiwa nokwethulwa kwayo kusho ukuthi sibhekene nenye yamadivayisi abangele ukulindelwa okukhulu eminyakeni yamuva.
Abadali bayo babikezela ukuthi leli washi le-athomu lizolahlekelwa umzuzwana owodwa njalo eminyakeni eyizigidi ezingama-30
Leli washi le-athomu lifakwe ku-orbit njengemphelelisi ngaphakathi kwelabhoratri yesikhala yesibili eyenziwe izwe elisempumalanga, i- I-Tiangong-2. Sikhuluma ngalokho okwenzelwe iChina okuyisinyathelo sokuqala sohlelo lokuhlola lokuvelela uhulumeni wezwe ahlose ukuba nalo isiteshi sangempela somkhumbi esivela ku-2022. Uphenyo luhlobo lwesibili lweTiangong-1, ilabhorethri yokuqala eyethulwa yiChina emkhathini ngo-2011.
Ngokuthunyelwa kwewashi le-athomu ngaphakathi kwalesi siteshi sesibili sokuhlola, izwe lase-Asia liqedela umjikelezo womsebenzi ohlobene ne- ukuhlola isikhala. Impumelelo yokwethulwa iza emasontweni ambalwa ngemuva kokuthi iChina yethule Mozi, isathelayithi yokuqala yokuxhumana ye-quantum, esikhaleni.