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Compact, Ti:sapphire-based, methane-stabilized optical molecular frequency comb and clock.

Andrew Benedick¹, Dmitry Tyurikov, Mikhail Gubin

¹Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. andrew_b@mit.edu

|October 14, 2009

Summary

A compact optical clock uses a methane-stabilized laser and a Ti:sapphire laser to create a frequency comb. This system achieves high precision for optical clock development.

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Area of Science:

Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
Metrology and Measurement Science
Laser Physics and Technology

Background:

Optical clocks require highly stable frequency references.
Frequency combs are essential tools for precise frequency measurements.
Compact and transportable systems are needed for practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To present a compact optical clock and frequency comb system.
To utilize the methane optical transition at 3.39 microm for referencing.
To generate a mid-infrared frequency comb.

Main Methods:

A 1 GHz octave-spanning Ti:sapphire laser was employed.
The laser was referenced to the F2(2)(P(7),v3) optical transition in methane.
A stabilized HeNe laser provided access to the methane transition.

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A mid-IR comb was generated at 3.39 microm.

Direct comparison with a 674 nm diode laser was performed.

Main Results:

The system achieved a frequency comb referenced to methane.
A mid-IR comb was successfully generated at the methane wavelength.
An Allan deviation of 3x10(-14) at 20 s was demonstrated.
The performance was validated through comparison with a diode laser.

Conclusions:

The presented system demonstrates a compact and precise optical clock and frequency comb.
The methane transition serves as a reliable reference for optical frequency combs.
The results show potential for advanced metrology and timekeeping applications.