Absolute Frequency Measurements of the Hg+ and Ca Optical Clock Transitions with a Femtosecond Laser

Th. Udem, S. A. Diddams, K. R. Vogel, C. W. Oates, E. A. Curtis, W. D. Lee, W. M. Itano, R. E. Drullinger, J. C. Bergquist, and L. Hollberg
Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 4996 – Published 28 May 2001
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Abstract

The frequency comb created by a femtosecond mode-locked laser and a microstructured fiber is used to phase coherently measure the frequencies of both the Hg+ and Ca optical standards with respect to the SI second. We find the transition frequencies to be fHg=1064721609899143(10)Hz and fCa=455986240494158(26)Hz, respectively. In addition to the unprecedented precision demonstrated here, this work is the precursor to all-optical atomic clocks based on the Hg+ and Ca standards. Furthermore, when combined with previous measurements, we find no time variations of these atomic frequencies within the uncertainties of |(fCa/t)/fCa|8×1014yr1 and |(fHg/t)/fHg|30×1014yr1.

  • Received 4 January 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.4996

©2001 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Th. Udem*, S. A. Diddams, K. R. Vogel, C. W. Oates, E. A. Curtis, W. D. Lee, W. M. Itano, R. E. Drullinger, J. C. Bergquist, and L. Hollberg

  • Time and Frequency Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305

  • *Present address: Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Strasse 1, 85748 Garching, Germany.

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Vol. 86, Iss. 22 — 28 May 2001

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