New physics law sheds light on measurement precision

29 October 2010 - New physics law sheds light on measurement precision. Researchers from the University of Sheffield have discovered a new law of physics that determines exactly what it costs to make a measurement with a certain precision. The discovery by Dr Pieter Kok and his team from the University´s Department of Physics and Astronomy, which was published today (29 October 2010) in the journal Physical Review Letters, will hopefully help with the detection of elusive gravitational waves, and open up new levels of miniaturisation in nanotechnology. Precision measurements are the engine of scientific and technological progress. Applications include gravitational wave detection, in which the space-bending waves generated by colliding black holes can finally be registered here on Earth. These waves are predicted in Einstein´s theory of general relativity, but they have so far eluded direct observation. Another application is in the continuing miniaturisation of technology: smaller devices require ever more precise engineering, and at the same time become increasingly fragile.