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Demonstration of a Timescale Based on a Stable Optical Carrier.
William R Milner1, John M Robinson1, Colin J Kennedy1
1JILA, NIST and University of Colorado, 440 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|November 9, 2019
Summary
We developed the first timescale using only optical technology, achieving unprecedented timekeeping accuracy. This optical timescale significantly outperforms existing systems, paving the way for future advancements in precision timekeeping.
Area of Science:
- Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
- Metrology
- Quantum Information Science
Background:
- Current atomic clock timescales rely on microwave oscillators, limiting precision.
- Optical frequency standards offer higher potential but lack stable local oscillators.
- Developing a stable optical oscillator is crucial for next-generation timekeeping.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first timescale based entirely on optical technology.
- To demonstrate an optical timescale that surpasses existing technologies in performance.
- To establish a foundation for future timekeeping at the 10^-18 level.
Main Methods:
- Combined a cryogenic silicon cavity with improved long-term stability.
- Integrated an accurate Strontium-87 (Sr) lattice clock.
- Developed a novel method for reliable steering of an optical timescale.
Main Results:
- The developed optical timescale demonstrated superior performance compared to existing systems.
- Achieved an estimated time error of only 48±94 picoseconds over 34 days.
- Projected stability below 1x10^-17 after several months of averaging.
Conclusions:
- This work presents the first fully optical timescale, overcoming previous limitations.
- The developed optical timescale offers superior accuracy and stability.
- Achieving timekeeping at the 10^-18 level is now a realistic prospect with this technology.
