Operating a (87)Sr optical lattice clock with high precision and at high density.

Area of Science:

• Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) Physics
• Quantum Metrology
• Laser Spectroscopy

Background:

• The JILA Strontium (Sr) optical frequency standard has achieved a systematic uncertainty of 10⁻¹⁶.
• Advancements in laser systems aim to improve stability and reach the standard quantum measurement limit.
• Operating lattice clocks with large atom numbers necessitates understanding and mitigating systematic frequency shifts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report experimental progress on the JILA Sr optical frequency standard.
• To explore the potential of an upgraded laser system for enhanced stability.
• To address and propose solutions for systematic frequency shifts in optical lattice clocks.

Main Methods:

• Construction and implementation of an upgraded laser system.
• Operation of an optical lattice clock with a large number of atoms.
• Theoretical analysis and experimental investigation of collisional frequency shifts in fermionic Sr lattice clocks.

Main Results:

• The JILA Sr standard demonstrates systematic uncertainty at the 10⁻¹⁶ fractional frequency level.
• An upgraded laser system shows potential for reaching the standard quantum measurement limit and record stability.
• A novel method for suppressing systematic frequency shifts due to atomic interactions has been developed.

Conclusions:

• The upgraded laser system and novel suppression method are critical for advancing the JILA Sr optical frequency standard.
• Mitigating atomic interaction effects is essential for maximizing the performance of large-atom-number lattice clocks.
• These advancements pave the way for next-generation atomic clocks with unprecedented precision.