China’s UV Crystal Aims to Enable GPS-Free Navigation for Submarines and Missiles
TL;DR
Chinese researchers say a fluorinated borate crystal can convert laser light to 145.2 nm ultraviolet, enabling extremely precise thorium-229–based nuclear clocks that could support GPS-free navigation for submarines, missiles, and spacecraft. If perfected, this could improve “dead reckoning” navigation and reduce reliance on GPS, though practical deployment remains uncertain and the technology is far from ready.
Topics:sciencemilitary#gps-free-navigation#military#nuclear-clocks#submarines#thorium-229#ultraviolet-lasers
- China’s new crystal may help submarines, missiles navigate without GPS Interesting Engineering
- Chinese crystal ‘paves way’ for GPS-free thorium clock navigation South China Morning Post
- This Chinese crystal can help in navigation without GPS NewsBytes
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