Presentation
5 March 2021 Exploiting phase coherence for improved resolution in optical atomic frequency ratios
Tara M. Fortier
Author Affiliations +
Abstract
Optical atomic clocks that operate at frequencies up to 100,000 times higher than their microwave counterparts permit better resolutions and accuracies, while also providing more leeway in environmental control for out of lab applications. Many of the precision applications of these clocks, including relativistic geodesy and tests of fundamental physics rely on the intercomparison of at least two optical clocks. Relative comparisons that include single ion clocks, however, can require close to one month of continuous averaging to achieve measurement instabilities near 1 part in 1018. The long averaging times result from limits imposed on the quantum project noise as a result of signal detection from a single ion, as well as atom probe time limitations due to laser-atom decoherence. In this talk I will describe how the phase coherent properties of an optical frequency comb can be used to enable correlated and synchronous measurement of atomic clocks as a means to improve their relative measurement instability by close to a factor of 10, and nearly 100 times speed up in averaging time over conventional measurement techniques.
Conference Presentation
© (2021) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Tara M. Fortier "Exploiting phase coherence for improved resolution in optical atomic frequency ratios", Proc. SPIE 11700, Optical and Quantum Sensing and Precision Metrology, 117000L (5 March 2021); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2586986
Advertisement
Advertisement
KEYWORDS
Coherence (optics)

Optical resolution

Back to Top