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1. Excess Noise and Photoinduced Effects in Highly Reflective Crystalline Mirror Coatings

Author

Jialiang Yu, Sebastian Häfner, Thomas Legero, Sofia Herbers, Daniele Nicolodi, Chun Yu Ma, Fritz Riehle, Uwe Sterr, Dhruv Kedar, John M. Robinson, Eric Oelker, and Jun Ye

Subjects
Physics, QC1-999
Abstract

Thermodynamically induced length fluctuations of high-reflectivity mirror coatings put a fundamental limit on sensitivity and stability of precision optical interferometers like gravitational-wave detectors and ultrastable lasers. The main contribution—Brownian thermal noise—is related to the mechanical loss of the coating material. Al_{0.92}Ga_{0.08}As/GaAs crystalline mirror coatings are expected to reduce this limit. The first measurements of cryogenic silicon cavities revealed the existence of additional noise contributions exceeding the expected Brownian thermal noise. We describe a novel, nonthermal, photoinduced effect in birefringence that is most likely related to the recently discovered birefringence noise. Our studies of the dynamics and power dependence are an important step toward uncovering the underlying mechanisms. Averaging the anticorrelated birefringent noise results in a residual noise that is shown to be substantially different from Brownian thermal noise. To this end, we develop a new method for analyzing the coating noise in higher-order transverse-cavity modes, which makes it possible for the first time to determine the contribution of Brownian thermal noise to the total cavity noise. The new noise contributions must be considered carefully in precision interferometry experiments using similar coatings based on semiconductor materials.

Published
2023
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2. Optical atomic clock comparison through turbulent air

Author

Martha I. Bodine, Jean-Daniel Deschênes, Isaac H. Khader, William C. Swann, Holly Leopardi, Kyle Beloy, Tobias Bothwell, Samuel M. Brewer, Sarah L. Bromley, Jwo-Sy Chen, Scott A. Diddams, Robert J. Fasano, Tara M. Fortier, Youssef S. Hassan, David B. Hume, Dhruv Kedar, Colin J. Kennedy, Amanda Koepke, David R. Leibrandt, Andrew D. Ludlow, William F. McGrew, William R. Milner, Daniele Nicolodi, Eric Oelker, Thomas E. Parker, John M. Robinson, Stefania Romish, Stefan A. Schäffer, Jeffrey A. Sherman, Lindsay Sonderhouse, Jian Yao, Jun Ye, Xiaogang Zhang, Nathan R. Newbury, and Laura C. Sinclair

Subjects
Physics, QC1-999
Abstract

We use frequency-comb-based optical two-way time-frequency transfer (O-TWTFT) to measure the optical frequency ratio of state-of-the-art ytterbium and strontium optical atomic clocks separated by a 1.5-km open-air link. Our free-space measurement is compared to a simultaneous measurement acquired via a noise-cancelled fiber link. Despite nonstationary, ps-level time-of-flight variations in the free-space link, ratio measurements obtained from the two links, averaged over 30.5 hours across six days, agree to 6×10^{−19}, showing that O-TWTFT can support free-space atomic clock comparisons below the 10^{−18} level.

Published
2020
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4. Optical frequency comb divider for microwaves with 10-18 absolute instability

Author

Youssef S. Hassan, Takuma Nakamura, Joe C. Campbell, Franklyn Quinlan, Josue Davila-Rodriguez, K. Beloy, Holly Leopardi, Tara M. Fortier, W. F. McGrew, Scott A. Diddams, Daniele Nicolodi, Andrew D. Ludlow, Xiaojun Xie, Xiaogang Zhang, and Jeff Sherman

Subjects
Computer Science::Hardware Architecture, Optics, Materials science, business.industry, Phase (waves), Optical clock, Optical frequency comb, business, Instability, Microwave, Degradation (telecommunications)
Abstract

Microwaves with 1×10-18 absolute instability were derived from two independent Yb optical clocks. The optical clock phase is reproduced at 10 GHz with 1×10-19 fidelity, demonstrating that state-of-the-art optical clock uncertainty and instability can be converted to microwaves without any degradation.

Published
2020

5. Optical Atomic Clock Comparison through Turbulent Air

Author

Colin Kennedy, W. F. McGrew, Stefan A. Schäffer, John Robinson, Nathan R. Newbury, Jean-Daniel Deschênes, Xiaogang Zhang, Sarah L. Bromley, Isaac H. Khader, Samuel M. Brewer, Jun Ye, Jeff Sherman, William C. Swann, Amanda Koepke, Jwo-Sy Chen, Thomas E. Parker, David R. Leibrandt, Laura C. Sinclair, R. J. Fasano, Dhruv Kedar, Eric Oelker, David Hume, Tara M. Fortier, Andrew D. Ludlow, Tobias Bothwell, Jian Yao, Stefania Romish, Kyle Beloy, Holly Leopardi, Youssef S. Hassan, William R. Milner, Scott A. Diddams, Daniele Nicolodi, Martha I. Bodine, and Lindsay Sonderhouse

Subjects
Physics, Ytterbium, Strontium, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Turbulence, FOS: Physical sciences, chemistry.chemical_element, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), Measure (mathematics), Atomic clock, Frequency comb, chemistry, Transfer (computing), Fiber, Atomic physics, Optics (physics.optics), Physics - Optics
Abstract

We use frequency comb-based optical two-way time-frequency transfer (O-TWTFT) to measure the optical frequency ratio of state-of-the-art ytterbium and strontium optical atomic clocks separated by a 1.5 km open-air link. Our free-space measurement is compared to a simultaneous measurement acquired via a noise-cancelled fiber link. Despite non-stationary, ps-level time-of-flight variations in the free-space link, ratio measurements obtained from the two links, averaged over 30.5 hours across six days, agree to $6\times10^{-19}$, showing that O-TWTFT can support free-space atomic clock comparisons below the $10^{-18}$ level.

Published
2020

6. Modeling motional energy spectra and lattice light shifts in optical lattice clocks

Author

Andrew D. Ludlow, Xiaogang Zhang, K. Beloy, R. J. Fasano, W. F. McGrew, Roger C. Brown, Daniele Nicolodi, and Youssef S. Hassan

Subjects
Condensed Matter::Quantum Gases, Physics, Ytterbium, Optical lattice, Strontium, Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph), High Energy Physics::Lattice, FOS: Physical sciences, Physics::Optics, chemistry.chemical_element, 01 natural sciences, Spectral line, 010305 fluids & plasmas, Physics - Atomic Physics, chemistry, Lattice (order), 0103 physical sciences, Physics::Atomic Physics, Atomic physics, 010306 general physics
Abstract

We develop a model to describe the motional (i.e., external degree of freedom) energy spectra of atoms trapped in a one-dimensional optical lattice, taking into account both axial and radial confinement relative to the lattice axis. Our model respects the coupling between axial and radial degrees of freedom, as well as other anharmonicities inherent in the confining potential. We further demonstrate how our model can be used to characterize lattice light shifts in optical lattice clocks, including shifts due to higher multipolar (magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole) and higher order (hyperpolarizability) coupling to the lattice field. We compare results for our model with results from other lattice light shift models in the literature under similar conditions., 19 pages; accepted to PRA

Published
2020

7. Coherent Optical Clock Down-Conversion for Microwave Frequencies with 10-18 Instability

Author

Scott A. Diddams, Daniele Nicolodi, Franklyn Quinlan, Tara M. Fortier, Josue Davila-Rodriguez, Jeff Sherman, Joe C. Campbell, Kyle Beloy, Xiaogang Zhang, Xiaojun Xie, Youssef S. Hassan, Takuma Nakamura, W. F. McGrew, Andrew D. Ludlow, and Holly Leopardi

Subjects
Physics, Multidisciplinary, Signal generator, business.industry, Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph), Phase (waves), FOS: Physical sciences, Applied Physics (physics.app-ph), Physics - Applied Physics, Stability (probability), Signal, Instability, Atomic clock, law.invention, Physics - Atomic Physics, Optics, law, Radar, business, Microwave, Optics (physics.optics), Physics - Optics
Abstract

Optical atomic clocks are poised to redefine the SI second, thanks to stability and accuracy more than one hundred times better than the current microwave atomic clock standard. However, the best optical clocks have not seen their performance transferred to the electronic domain, where radar, navigation, communications, and fundamental research rely on less stable microwave sources. By comparing two independent optical-to-electronic signal generators, we demonstrate a 10 GHz microwave signal with phase that exactly tracks that of the optical clock phase from which it is derived, yielding an absolute fractional frequency instability of 1*10-18 in the electronic domain. Such faithful reproduction of the optical clock phase expands the opportunities for optical clocks both technologically and scientifically for time-dissemination, navigation, and long-baseline interferometric imaging., 19 page, 10 figures (including Supplementary Text)

Published
2020

8. Coherent optical clock down-conversion for microwave frequencies with 10

Author

Takuma, Nakamura, Josue, Davila-Rodriguez, Holly, Leopardi, Jeff A, Sherman, Tara M, Fortier, Xiaojun, Xie, Joe C, Campbell, William F, McGrew, Xiaogang, Zhang, Youssef S, Hassan, Daniele, Nicolodi, Kyle, Beloy, Andrew D, Ludlow, Scott A, Diddams, and Franklyn, Quinlan

Abstract

Optical atomic clocks are poised to redefine the Système International (SI) second, thanks to stability and accuracy more than 100 times better than the current microwave atomic clock standard. However, the best optical clocks have not seen their performance transferred to the electronic domain, where radar, navigation, communications, and fundamental research rely on less stable microwave sources. By comparing two independent optical-to-electronic signal generators, we demonstrate a 10-gigahertz microwave signal with phase that exactly tracks that of the optical clock phase from which it is derived, yielding an absolute fractional frequency instability of 1 × 10

Published
2020

9. 10-18 Optical Atomic Clock Comparisons within the Boulder Atomic Clock Network

Author

John Robinson, Tara M. Fortier, Tobias Bothwell, W. F. McGrew, Scott A. Diddams, Dhruv Kedar, Daniele Nicolodi, Youssef S. Hassan, Jian Yao, Jeff Sherman, Amanda Koepke, Thomas E. Parker, May E. Kim, Jun Ye, Andrew D. Ludlow, Eric Oelker, Jwo-Sy Chen, D. H. Hume, Martha I. Bodine, Nathan R. Newbury, R. J. Fasano, William C. Swann, Xiaogang Zhang, K. Beloy, Lindsay Sonderhouse, Isaac H. Khader, David R. Leibrandt, Holly Leopardi, William R. Milner, David J. Wineland, Laura C. Sinclair, Jean-Daniel Deschenes, Colin Kennedy, Stefan A. Schäffer, Sarah L. Bromley, Nicholas Nardelli, Samuel M. Brewer, and Ethan Clements

Subjects
010309 optics, Physics, Optical frequencies, 0103 physical sciences, Atom optics, NIST, 02 engineering and technology, 021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology, 0210 nano-technology, 01 natural sciences, Stability (probability), Atomic clock, Computational physics
Abstract

We demonstrate optical frequency comparison of the 171Yb, 27Al+ and 87Sr atomic clocks with measurement uncertainties below 1 part in 1017, and discuss how phase-coherent and synchronous clock comparisons can be used to improve measurement stability.

Published
2020

10. Coherent Optical Clock Down-Conversion Realizing Microwaves With 10-18 Absolute Stability

Author

Xiaogang Zhang, Franklyn Quinlan, Andrew D. Ludlow, Josue Davila-Rodriguez, Tara M. Fortier, Holly Leopardi, Joe C. Campbell, Jeff Sherman, Youssef S. Hassan, Takuma Nakamura, Will McGrew, Xiaojun Xie, Daniele Nicolodi, and Scott A. Diddams

Subjects
Physics, Offset (computer science), business.industry, Down conversion, Physics::Optics, Astrophysics::Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics, Mode-locking, Band-pass filter, Phase noise, Optical clock, Optoelectronics, business, Optical filter, Microwave
Abstract

We generate 10-GHz microwaves, derived from independent Yb optical clocks, with 2.4*10-18 absolute fractional frequency stability, no significant offset at the 10-19 level, and femtosecond-precision transfer of the optical clock phase to the microwave domain.

Published
2020

11. Atomic clock performance enabling geodesy below the centimetre level

Author

Andrew D. Ludlow, K. Beloy, Xiaogang Zhang, Gianmaria Milani, R. J. Fasano, Tai Hyun Yoon, Stefan A. Schäffer, Marco Schioppo, W. F. McGrew, Daniele Nicolodi, N. Hinkley, and Roger C. Brown

Subjects
Physics, Geopotential, Multidisciplinary, General relativity, Gravitational wave, Clock rate, Pendulum, Relative velocity, 01 natural sciences, Atomic clock, Computational physics, 010309 optics, 0103 physical sciences, Sensitivity (control systems), Atomic physics, 010306 general physics
Abstract

The passage of time is tracked by counting oscillations of a frequency reference, such as Earth's revolutions or swings of a pendulum. By referencing atomic transitions, frequency (and thus time) can be measured more precisely than any other physical quantity, with the current generation of optical atomic clocks reporting fractional performance below the $10^{-17}$ level. However, the theory of relativity prescribes that the passage of time is not absolute, but impacted by an observer's reference frame. Consequently, clock measurements exhibit sensitivity to relative velocity, acceleration and gravity potential. Here we demonstrate optical clock measurements surpassing the present-day ability to account for the gravitational distortion of space-time across the surface of Earth. In two independent ytterbium optical lattice clocks, we demonstrate unprecedented levels in three fundamental benchmarks of clock performance. In units of the clock frequency, we report systematic uncertainty of $1.4 \times 10^{-18}$, measurement instability of $3.2 \times 10^{-19}$ and reproducibility characterised by ten blinded frequency comparisons, yielding a frequency difference of $[-7 \pm (5)_{stat} \pm (8)_{sys}] \times 10^{-19}$. While differential sensitivity to gravity could degrade the performance of these optical clocks as terrestrial standards of time, this same sensitivity can be used as an exquisite probe of geopotential. Near the surface of Earth, clock comparisons at the $1 \times 10^{-18}$ level provide 1 cm resolution along gravity, outperforming state-of-the-art geodetic techniques. These optical clocks can further be used to explore geophysical phenomena, detect gravitational waves, test general relativity and search for dark matter.

Published
2018

12. Progress on optical-clock-based time scale at NIST: Simulations and preliminary real-data analysis

Author

Andrew D. Ludlow, Stephan Schaffer, Jeff Sherman, Thomas E. Parker, Judah Levine, Daniele Nicolodi, Jian Yao, Xiaogang Zhang, Tara M. Fortier, K. Beloy, Stefania Romisch, W. F. McGrew, Holly Leopardi, R. J. Fasano, and Joshua J. Savory

Subjects
Scale (ratio), Aerospace Engineering, Ranging, Hydrogen maser, 01 natural sciences, 010309 optics, Optical frequencies, 0103 physical sciences, Optical clock, Environmental science, NIST, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 010306 general physics, Simulation
Abstract

This paper describes the recent National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) work on incorporating an optical clock into a time scale. We simulate a time scale composed of continuously operating commercial hydrogen masers and an optical frequency standard that does not operate continuously as a clock. The simulations indicate that to achieve the same performance of a continuously operating Cs-fountain time scale, it is necessary to run an optical frequency standard 12 minutes per half a day, or 1 hour per day, or 4 hours per 2.33 day, or 12 hours per week. Following the simulations, a Yb optical clock at NIST was frequently operated during the periods of 2017 March – April and 2017 late October – late December. During this operation, comb-mediated measurements between the Yb clock and a hydrogen maser had durations ranging from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the experimental arrangements. This paper analyzes these real data preliminarily and discusses the results. More data are needed to make a more complete assessment.

Published
2018

13. Measurements ofAl+27andMg+25magnetic constants for improved ion-clock accuracy

Author

David R. Leibrandt, Samuel M. Brewer, Ethan Clements, Holly Leopardi, David Hume, Tara M. Fortier, W. F. McGrew, K. Beloy, R. J. Fasano, Jwo-Sy Chen, Andrew D. Ludlow, David J. Wineland, Xiaogang Zhang, Chin-Wen Chou, Scott A. Diddams, Daniele Nicolodi, and A. M. Hankin

Subjects
Physics, Aluminum Ion, 0103 physical sciences, Atomic physics, 010306 general physics, 01 natural sciences, 010305 fluids & plasmas, Ion
Abstract

An aluminum ion clock has a fractional-frequency uncertainty of less than one part in ${10}^{18}$, a four-decades-long goal in precision.

Published
2019

14. Towards the optical second:verifying optical clocks at the SI limit

Author

Jeff Sherman, Andrew D. Ludlow, Xiaogang Zhang, Stefan A. Schäffer, Holly Leopardi, Thomas E. Parker, W. F. McGrew, Christopher W. Oates, Joshua J. Savory, K. Beloy, Roger C. Brown, Stefania Romisch, R. J. Fasano, Jian Yao, Tara M. Fortier, and Daniele Nicolodi

Subjects
Physics, Gravitational potential, Clock rate, Limit (mathematics), Hyperfine structure, Measure (mathematics), Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Microwave, Time and frequency transfer, Coupling coefficient of resonators, Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Computational physics
Abstract

The pursuit of ever more precise measures of time and frequency motivates redefinition of the second in terms of an optical atomic transition. To ensure continuity with the current definition, based on the microwave hyperfine transition in Cs133, it is necessary to measure the absolute frequency of candidate optical standards relative to primary cesium references. Armed with independent measurements, a stringent test of optical clocks can be made by comparing ratios of absolute frequency measurements against optical frequency ratios measured via direct optical comparison. Here we measure the S01→P03 transition of Yb171 using satellite time and frequency transfer to compare the clock frequency to an international collection of national primary and secondary frequency standards. Our measurements consist of 79 runs spanning eight months, yielding the absolute frequency to be 518 295 836 590 863.71(11) Hz and corresponding to a fractional uncertainty of 2.1×10−16. This absolute frequency measurement, the most accurate reported for any transition, allows us to close the Cs-Yb-Sr-Cs frequency measurement loop at an uncertainty

Published
2019

15. Optical-Clock-Based Time Scale

Author

Jian Yao, Holly Leopardi, W. F. McGrew, Tara M. Fortier, K. Beloy, R. J. Fasano, Andrew D. Ludlow, Thomas E. Parker, Christopher W. Oates, Joshua J. Savory, Xiaogang Zhang, Judah Levine, Scott A. Diddams, Daniele Nicolodi, Stefania Romisch, Stefan A. Schäffer, and Jeff Sherman

Subjects
Coordinated Universal Time, Scale (ratio), Computer science, business.industry, FOS: Physical sciences, General Physics and Astronomy, Applied Physics (physics.app-ph), 02 engineering and technology, Physics - Applied Physics, 021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology, 01 natural sciences, Stability (probability), Article, Atomic clock, Flywheel, Orders of magnitude (time), 0103 physical sciences, Limit (music), Electronic engineering, Global Positioning System, 010306 general physics, 0210 nano-technology, business
Abstract

A time scale is a procedure for accurately and continuously marking the passage of time. It is exemplified by Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), and provides the backbone for critical navigation tools such as the Global Positioning System (GPS). Present time scales employ microwave atomic clocks, whose attributes can be combined and averaged in a manner such that the composite is more stable, accurate, and reliable than the output of any individual clock. Over the past decade, clocks operating at optical frequencies have been introduced which are orders of magnitude more stable than any microwave clock. However, in spite of their great potential, these optical clocks cannot be operated continuously, which makes their use in a time scale problematic. In this paper, we report the development of a hybrid microwave-optical time scale, which only requires the optical clock to run intermittently while relying upon the ensemble of microwave clocks to serve as the flywheel oscillator. The benefit of using clock ensemble as the flywheel oscillator, instead of a single clock, can be understood by the Dick-effect limit. This time scale demonstrates for the first time sub-nanosecond accuracy for a few months, attaining a fractional frequency uncertainty of 1.45*10-16 at 30 days and reaching the 10-17 decade at 50 days, with respect to UTC. This time scale significantly improves the accuracy in timekeeping and could change the existing time-scale architectures.

Published
2019

16. Measurement of the 27Al+ and 87Sr absolute optical frequencies

Author

Andrew D. Ludlow, Eric Oelker, Dhruv Kedar, Jwo-Sy Chen, Scott A. Diddams, Xiaogang Zhang, Daniele Nicolodi, Holly Leopardi, David Hume, Youssef S. Hassan, William R. Milner, Jian Yao, Jun Ye, Tara M. Fortier, R. J. Fasano, Kyle Beloy, Tobias Bothwell, Jeff Sherman, Lindsay Sonderhouse, Stefania Romisch, Thomas E. Parker, Samuel M. Brewer, Sarah L. Bromley, Colin Kennedy, David R. Leibrandt, W. F. McGrew, and John Robinson

Subjects
Physics, Optics, Optical frequencies, business.industry, General Engineering, Precision metrology, Optical frequency comb, business, Atomic clock
Abstract

We perform absolute measurement of the 27Al+ single-ion and 87Sr neutral lattice clock frequencies at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and JILA at the University of Colorado against a global ensemble of primary frequency standards. Over an eight month period multiple measurements yielded the mean optical atomic transition frequencies ν Al + = 1 121 015 393 207 859.50 ( 0.36 ) Hz and ν Sr = 429 228 004 229 873.19(0.15) Hz, where the stated uncertainties are dominated by statistical noise and gaps in the observation interval (‘dead-time’ uncertainty).

Published
2021

17. Optical Frequency Measurements at 1×10−18 Uncertainty with Ytterbium Optical Lattice Clocks

Author

Richard W. Fox, Stefan A. Schäffer, Andrew D. Ludlow, K. Beloy, N. Hinkley, Daniele Nicolodi, Tai Hyun Yoon, Xiaogang Zhang, R. J. Fasano, W. F. McGrew, and Roger C. Brown

Subjects
Ytterbium, Physics, Optical lattice, business.industry, Physics::Optics, chemistry.chemical_element, Optical polarization, 01 natural sciences, Stability (probability), Characterization (materials science), 010309 optics, Computer Science::Hardware Architecture, Optics, chemistry, Optical frequencies, 0103 physical sciences, Atom optics, NIST, Physics::Atomic Physics, 010306 general physics, business
Abstract

We describe ytterbium optical lattice clocks under development at NIST. This includes the characterization of optical frequency stability and uncertainty, as well as measurements between two independent clocks, at the 10−18level. We also report on optical frequency ratio measurements with other optical clocks at NIST.

Published
2018

18. Field-deployable Photonic Microwave Synthesizer

Author

Xiaopeng Xie, Ronald Holzwarth, Shubhashish Datta, Maurice Lessing, Matthias Lezius, W. Hansel, Milan Fischer, Giorgio Santarelli, Romain Bouchand, Daniele Nicolodi, Abbay Joshi, Yann Lecoq, Michele Giunta, and Pierre-Alain Tremblin

Subjects
Materials science, business.industry, Physics::Optics, 02 engineering and technology, Microwave transmission, 021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology, Laser, 01 natural sciences, Noise (electronics), Signal, law.invention, 010309 optics, Laser linewidth, law, 0103 physical sciences, Phase noise, Optoelectronics, Photonics, 0210 nano-technology, business, Microwave
Abstract

We present the progress towards a transportable photonic microwave synthesizer, porting ultra-high optical stability to a 12 GHz signal. The system is composed of two main sub-units: a 194 THz transportable ultra-stable laser with sub-Hz linewidth and an ultra-low noise optical frequency comb used for dividing such optical frequency to the microwave domain. Characterizing the signal by means of a self-made cross-correlator, a phase noise power spectral density of −170 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz Fourier frequency is measured. This result surpasses the performance demonstrated with transportable Cryogenic Sapphire Oscillator.

Published
2018

19. A Cryogenic High-Finesse Optical Cavity to Improve the Stability of Yb Optical Lattice Clocks

Author

Marco Schioppo, K. Beloy, W. F. McGrew, Xiaogang Zhang, Andrew D. Ludlow, Daniele Nicolodi, and R. J. Fasano

Subjects
Cryostat, Optical lattice, Materials science, business.industry, Physics::Optics, Laser, 01 natural sciences, Noise (electronics), law.invention, 010309 optics, Amplitude modulation, Finesse, law, Optical cavity, 0103 physical sciences, Atom optics, Optoelectronics, 010306 general physics, business
Abstract

We report on the implementation of a high-finesse sapphire optical cavity operating in a closed-cycle cryostat at 4 K. Operation at cryogenic temperature allows suppression of thermal noise and potential for laser frequency stabilization at the low 10−17 fractional frequency stability level. However, it complicates controlling technical sources of noise. Solutions for minimizing the impact of acceleration noise, temperature fluctuations, and residual amplitude modulation will be presented, as well as laser frequency stability characterization and preliminary results in applying the improved clock laser to the interrogation of the NIST Yb optical lattice clocks.

Published
2018

20. Dark matter searches within the intercontinental optical atomic clock network

Author

Andrew D. Ludlow, Mamoru Sekido, W. F. McGrew, Beata Zjawin, Roger C. Brown, R. Le Targat, Roman Ciuryło, Marco Schioppo, Tetsuya Ido, M. Bober, Peter Wolf, Xiaogang Zhang, Daniele Nicolodi, H. Hachisu, P. Ablewski, S. Bilicki, R. J. Fasano, K. Beloy, Jérôme Lodewyck, Piotr Wcisło, P. Morzynski, and Michal Zawada

Subjects
Physics, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, 0103 physical sciences, Dark matter, Atom optics, Astronomy, 010306 general physics, 01 natural sciences, Atomic clock
Abstract

We report preliminary results of dark mater searches within the worldwide network made of our laboratories. We demonstrate that data routinely collected by our currently operating optical atomic clocks without any further developments of the experimental set-ups may be used to run a global program aimed on searches of dark matter.

Published
2018

21. Analysis of optical atomic clocks readouts aimed on searches for dark-matter signatures

Author

P. Morzynski, Michal Zawada, Mamoru Sekido, Tetsuya Ido, K. Beloy, Andrew D. Ludlow, W. F. McGrew, M. Bober, Peter Wolf, Marco Schioppo, Piotr Wcisło, R. J. Fasano, S. Bilicki, Beata Zjawin, Xiaogang Zhang, Roman Ciuryło, P. Ablewski, H. Hachisu, Roger C. Brown, R. Le Targat, Jérôme Lodewyck, and Daniele Nicolodi

Subjects
010302 applied physics, Physics, 0103 physical sciences, Dark matter, Scalar (mathematics), Atom optics, 010306 general physics, Adaptive optics, 01 natural sciences, Atomic clock, Computational physics
Abstract

We describe optical atomic clocks readouts' analysis and provide a recipe for analysing data from transcontinental network made of already existing optical atomic clocks to search for dark-matter signatures. We show how to correlate the data and we discuss methods of computing cross-correlation of more than two readouts. Furthermore, we show how to analyse the data from a network of many clocks to exceed previously reported limits on oscillating massive scalar fields couplings to standard matter.

Published
2018

22. Incorporating an Optical Clock into a Time Scale at NIST: Simulations and Preliminary Real-Data Analysis

Author

Joshua J. Savory, Xiaogang Zhang, Jeff Sherman, W. F. McGrew, Andrew D. Ludlow, Stephan Schaeffer, Judah Levine, Stefania Romisch, Tara M. Fortier, Jian Yao, Kyle Beloy, Daniele Nicolodi, Thomas E. Parker, and R. J. Fasano

Subjects
Scale (ratio), Optical frequencies, NIST, Environmental science, Optical clock, Ranging, Hydrogen maser, Simulation
Abstract

This paper describes the recent NIST work on incorporating an optical clock into a time scale. We simulate a time scale composed of continuously-operating commercial hydrogen masers and an optical frequency standard that does not operate continuously as a clock. The simulations indicate that to achieve the same performance of a continuously-operating Cs-fountain time scale, it is necessary to run an optical frequency standard 12 min per half a day, or 1 hour per day, or 4 hours per 2.33 day, or 12 hours per week. Following the simulations, a Yb optical clock at NIST was frequently operated during the periods of 2017 March – April and 2017 late October – late December. During this operation, comb-mediated measurements between the Yb clock and a hydrogen maser had durations ranging from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the experimental arrangements. This paper analyzes these real data preliminarily, and discusses the results. More data are needed to make a more complete assessment.

Published
2018

23. Faraday-Shielded dc Stark-Shift-Free Optical Lattice Clock

Author

Stefan A. Schäffer, Tai Hyun Yoon, Daniele Nicolodi, R. J. Fasano, Roger C. Brown, Andrew D. Ludlow, Xiaogang Zhang, N. Hinkley, W. F. McGrew, and K. Beloy

Subjects
Physics, Optical lattice, Field (physics), Clock rate, General Physics and Astronomy, 01 natural sciences, law.invention, 010309 optics, symbols.namesake, Stark effect, law, Electric field, 0103 physical sciences, Electromagnetic shielding, Shielded cable, symbols, Physics::Atomic Physics, Atomic physics, 010306 general physics, Faraday cage
Abstract

We demonstrate the absence of a dc Stark shift in an ytterbium optical lattice clock. Stray electric fields are suppressed through the introduction of an in-vacuum Faraday shield. Still, the effectiveness of the shielding must be experimentally assessed. Such diagnostics are accomplished by applying high voltage to six electrodes, which are grounded in normal operation to form part of the Faraday shield. Our measurements place a constraint on the dc Stark shift at the ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}20}$ level, in units of the clock frequency. Moreover, we discuss a potential source of error in strategies to precisely measure or cancel nonzero dc Stark shifts, attributed to field gradients coupled with the finite spatial extent of the lattice-trapped atoms. With this consideration, we find that Faraday shielding, complemented with experimental validation, provides both a practically appealing and effective solution to the problem of dc Stark shifts in optical lattice clocks.

Published
2018

24. New bounds on dark matter coupling from a global network of optical atomic clocks

Author

Peter Wolf, Andrew D. Ludlow, Tetsuya Ido, Daniele Nicolodi, R.J. Fasano, P. Morzynski, Kyle Beloy, H. Hachisu, Michal Zawada, M. Bober, Xiaogang Zhang, Mamoru Sekido, Piotr Wcisło, Roger C. Brown, S. Bilicki, R. Le Targat, Jérôme Lodewyck, Beata Zjawin, Roman Ciuryło, W. F. McGrew, P. Ablewski, Marco Schioppo, Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
experimental methods, Dark matter, defect: topological, Astrophysics::Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics, detector: network, 01 natural sciences, susceptibility, Standard Model, Topological defect, dark matter: coupling, network: optical, 0103 physical sciences, strontium, 010306 general physics, time: measurement methods, Research Articles, Applied Physics, Physics, Coupling, fundamental constant: fine structure, Multidisciplinary, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, atom, Quantum sensor, SciAdv r-articles, ytterbium, dark matter: detector, Atomic clock, [PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-GEN-PH]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/General Physics [physics.gen-ph], [PHYS.HPHE]Physics [physics]/High Energy Physics - Phenomenology [hep-ph], [PHYS.GRQC]Physics [physics]/General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology [gr-qc], Atomic physics, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], Scalar field, Order of magnitude, Research Article
Abstract

The first Earth-scale quantum sensor network based on optical atomic clocks is looking for dark matter candidates., We report on the first Earth-scale quantum sensor network based on optical atomic clocks aimed at dark matter (DM) detection. Exploiting differences in the susceptibilities to the fine-structure constant of essential parts of an optical atomic clock, i.e., the cold atoms and the optical reference cavity, we can perform sensitive searches for DM signatures without the need for real-time comparisons of the clocks. We report a two orders of magnitude improvement in constraints on transient variations of the fine-structure constant, which considerably improves the detection limit for the standard model (SM)–DM coupling. We use Yb and Sr optical atomic clocks at four laboratories on three continents to search for both topological defect and massive scalar field candidates. No signal consistent with a DM coupling is identified, leading to considerably improved constraints on the DM-SM couplings.

Published
2018

25. Transportable Ultra-low Noise Photonic Microwave Synthesizer

Author

Xiaopeng Xie, Michele Giunta, Ronald Holzwarth, Matthias Lezius, Giorgio Santarelli, Milan Fischer, Romain Bouchand, Shubhashish Datta, Y. Le Coq, Abhay Joshi, Pierre-Alain Tremblin, Maurice Lessing, W. Hansel, and Daniele Nicolodi

Subjects
Materials science, business.industry, Physics::Optics, 02 engineering and technology, Microwave transmission, 01 natural sciences, Noise (electronics), 010309 optics, Frequency divider, Frequency comb, 020210 optoelectronics & photonics, 0103 physical sciences, Phase noise, 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering, Optoelectronics, Physics::Atomic Physics, Photonics, business, Microwave, Spectral purity
Abstract

We report on a transportable photonic microwave synthesizer comprising an ultrastable laser and a ultra-low noise frequency comb. The last acts as a frequency divider, transferring the spectral purity from the optical to microwave domain.

Published
2018

26. Hyperpolarizability and Operational Magic Wavelength in an Optical Lattice Clock

Author

Holly Leopardi, Andrew D. Ludlow, R. J. Fasano, Gianmaria Milani, Tara M. Fortier, N. Hinkley, Xiaogang Zhang, Daniele Nicolodi, Marco Schioppo, K. Beloy, N. B. Phillips, W. F. McGrew, Tai Hyun Yoon, and Roger C. Brown

Subjects
Physics, Quantum Physics, Optical lattice, Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph), business.industry, Clock rate, Magic (programming), FOS: Physical sciences, General Physics and Astronomy, Hyperpolarizability, 01 natural sciences, Physics - Atomic Physics, 010309 optics, symbols.namesake, Wavelength, Optics, Lattice (order), 0103 physical sciences, symbols, Atomic physics, Quantum Physics (quant-ph), 010306 general physics, business, Doppler effect, Scaling
Abstract

Optical clocks benefit from tight atomic confinement enabling extended interrogation times as well as Doppler- and recoil-free operation. However, these benefits come at the cost of frequency shifts that, if not properly controlled, may degrade clock accuracy. Numerous theoretical studies have predicted optical lattice clock frequency shifts that scale nonlinearly with trap depth. To experimentally observe and constrain these shifts in an $^{171}$Yb optical lattice clock, we construct a lattice enhancement cavity that exaggerates the light shifts. We observe an atomic temperature that is proportional to the optical trap depth, fundamentally altering the scaling of trap-induced light shifts and simplifying their parametrization. We identify an "operational" magic wavelength where frequency shifts are insensitive to changes in trap depth. These measurements and scaling analysis constitute an essential systematic characterization for clock operation at the $10^{-18}$ level and beyond., 5 + 2 pages, 3 figures, added supplemental

Published
2017

27. Accurate control of optoelectronic amplitude to phase noise conversion in photodetection of ultra-fast optical pulses

Author

Romain, Bouchand, Daniele, Nicolodi, Xiaopeng, Xie, Christophe, Alexandre, and Yann, Le Coq

Abstract

When illuminating a photodiode with modulated laser light, optical intensity fluctuations of the incident beam are converted into phase fluctuations of the output electrical signal. This amplitude to phase noise conversion (APC) thus imposes a stringent constraint on the relative intensity noise (RIN) of the laser carrier when dealing with ultra-low phase noise microwave generation. Although the APC vanishes under certain conditions, it exhibits random fluctuations preventing efficient long-term passive stabilization schemes. In this paper, we present a digital coherent modulation-demodulation system for automatic measurement and control of the APC of a photodetector. The system is demonstrated in the detection of ultra-short optical pulses with an InGaAs photodetector and enables stable generation of ultra-low phase noise microwave signals with RIN rejection beyond 50 dB. This simple system can be used in various optoelectronic schemes, making photodetection virtually insensitive to the RIN of the lasers. We utilize this system to investigate the impact of the radiofrequency (RF) transmission line at the output of the photodetector on the APC coefficient that can affect the accuracy of the measurement in certain cases.

Published
2017

28. Ultra-short optical pulses leading to ultra-stable photonic microwave generation

Author

Yann Le Coq, Ronald Holzwarth, Christophe Alexandre, Shubhashish Datta, Giorgio Santarelli, Romain Bouchand, Abhay Joshi, Daniele Nicolodi, M. Lours, Michele Giunta, Matthias Lezius, Wolfgang Hänsel, Pierre-Alain Tremblin, and Xiaopeng Xie

Subjects
Physics, business.industry, Pulse duration, 02 engineering and technology, 021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology, 01 natural sciences, Signal, Pulse (physics), Photodiode, law.invention, 010309 optics, Optics, law, 0103 physical sciences, Phase noise, Optoelectronics, Photonics, 0210 nano-technology, business, Computer Science::Databases, Microwave, Bandwidth-limited pulse
Abstract

Microwave signals can be generated by photo-detecting ultra-short optical pulse trains. We demonstrate that the pulse duration, although shorter than the impulse response of photodiode, can greatly limit the phase noise of generated microwave signal.

Published
2017

29. Frequency comb-assisted QCL stabilization for high resolution molecular spectroscopy

Author

Sean Tokunaga, Paul-Eric Pottie, R. Santagata, Daniele Nicolodi, M. Abgrall, Dan Xu, Won-Kyu Lee, Dang Bao An Tran, B. Argence, Olivier Lopez, Anne Amy-Klein, Y. Le Coq, Benoît Darquié, and R. Le Targat

Subjects
Materials science, business.industry, Saturated absorption spectroscopy, Laser, 01 natural sciences, law.invention, 010309 optics, Frequency comb, Optics, law, 0103 physical sciences, Sensitivity (control systems), business, Absorption (electromagnetic radiation), Quantum cascade laser, Spectroscopy, 010301 acoustics, Frequency modulation
Abstract

We present a frequency comb-assisted experimental setup which enables us to both coherently transfer the stability and accuracy of a remote near-infrared (NIR) ultrastable laser to a mid-infrared (MIR) quantum cascade laser (QCL), and widely tune the QCL frequency for spectroscopic applications. The QCL is stabilized at the level of 2×10−15 from 1 to 100 s, with an accuracy of 10−14 after 100 s. The achievable frequency tuning paves the way for high-resolution saturated absorption spectroscopy of molecular transitions, in particular in spectral regions that were previously inaccessible with standard stabilized MIR lasers. Preliminary results show a sensitivity at the kHz level on transition center frequencies.

Published
2017

30. First international comparison of fountain primary frequency standards via a long distance optical fiber link

Author

Heiner Denker, M. Lours, Sébastien Bize, Sebastian Koke, Gesine Grosche, Y. Le Coq, Anne Amy-Klein, Daniele Nicolodi, Christian Chardonnet, Burghard Lipphardt, Giorgio Santarelli, J. Guena, Paul-Eric Pottie, S. M. F. Raupach, M. Abgrall, Peter Rosenbusch, Nicolas Quintin, Christian Grebing, Stefan Weyers, F. Meynadier, R. Le Targat, Fabrice Wiotte, A. Kuhl, Nicola Chiodo, Emilie Camisard, Olivier Lopez, Vladislav Gerginov, Fabio Stefani, Laboratoire national de métrologie et d'essais - Systèmes de Référence Temps-Espace (LNE - SYRTE), Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt [Braunschweig] (PTB), Institut für Erdmessung, Leibniz Universität Hannover=Leibniz University Hannover, Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers (LPL), Université Paris 13 (UP13)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), GIP RENATER, RENATER, Laboratoire Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences (LP2N), Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 (UB)-Institut d'Optique Graduate School (IOGS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Labex First-TF ANR-10-LABX-48-01, Equipex REFIMEVE+ ANR-11-EQPX-0039), Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), Conseil Régional Ile-de-France (DIM Nano'K), CNRS with Action Spécifique GRAM, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) within the CRC 1128, ANR-11-BS04-0009,LIOM,Lien optique multiplexé pour la métrologie et la physique fondamentale(2011), European Project: SIB02, European Project: SIB55, European Project: 15SIB05, Leibniz Universität Hannover [Hannover] (LUH), and Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1-Institut d'Optique Graduate School (IOGS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
Dewey Decimal Classification::500 | Naturwissenschaften::550 | Geowissenschaften, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Optical fiber, International Atomic Time, Frequency standards, Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph), Optical link, Frequency standard, 01 natural sciences, Primary frequency standard, Physics - Atomic Physics, law.invention, Optical fiber frequency transfer, Optical frequency standard, Engineering (all), law, Transfer (computing), ddc:550, Atomic fountain clocks, International fountain clock comparison, Hyperfine structure, Clocks, Physics, primary standard, General Engineering, Redefinition of the seconds, time and frequency metrology, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), Physikalisch-technische bundesanstalt, Clock comparisons, optical fiber link, Fibers, Atomic physics, International atomic time (TAI), Standards, atomic clock, Atomic clocks, Frequency transfer, Ground state, Phase (waves), FOS: Physical sciences, Natural frequencies, 010309 optics, [PHYS.QPHY]Physics [physics]/Quantum Physics [quant-ph], 0103 physical sciences, Optical fibers, 010306 general physics, Rubidium, Computational physics, Optical materials, Fountain, Satellite links
Abstract

We report on the first comparison of distant caesium fountain primary frequency standards (PFSs) via an optical fiber link. The 1415 km long optical link connects two PFSs at LNE-SYRTE (Laboratoire National de m\'{e}trologie et d'Essais - SYst\`{e}me de R\'{e}f\'{e}rences Temps-Espace) in Paris (France) with two at PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt) in Braunschweig (Germany). For a long time, these PFSs have been major contributors to accuracy of the International Atomic Time (TAI), with stated accuracies of around $3\times 10^{-16}$. They have also been the references for a number of absolute measurements of clock transition frequencies in various optical frequency standards in view of a future redefinition of the second. The phase coherent optical frequency transfer via a stabilized telecom fiber link enables far better resolution than any other means of frequency transfer based on satellite links. The agreement for each pair of distant fountains compared is well within the combined uncertainty of a few 10$^{-16}$ for all the comparisons, which fully supports the stated PFSs' uncertainties. The comparison also includes a rubidium fountain frequency standard participating in the steering of TAI and enables a new absolute determination of the $^{87}$Rb ground state hyperfine transition frequency with an uncertainty of $3.1\times 10^{-16}$. This paper is dedicated to the memory of Andr\'{e} Clairon, who passed away on the 24$^{th}$ of December 2015, for his pioneering and long-lasting efforts in atomic fountains. He also pioneered optical links from as early as 1997.

Published
2017

31. Phase noise characterization of sub-hertz linewidth lasers via digital cross correlation

Author

Daniele Nicolodi, Xiaopeng Xie, Christophe Alexandre, Michel Lours, Yann Le Coq, Romain Bouchand, Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace ( SYRTE ), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 ( UPMC ) -Institut national des sciences de l'Univers ( INSU - CNRS ) -Observatoire de Paris-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ( CNRS ), Centre d'Etude et De Recherche en Informatique et Communications ( CEDRIC ), Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Informatique pour l'Industrie et l'Entreprise ( ENSIIE ) -Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers [CNAM] : EA4629, Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre d'études et de recherche en informatique et communications (CEDRIC), Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Informatique pour l'Industrie et l'Entreprise (ENSIIE)-Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers [CNAM] (CNAM), and Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, FOS: Physical sciences, Physics::Optics, 02 engineering and technology, Coherent communications, 01 natural sciences, law.invention, 010309 optics, symbols.namesake, Laser linewidth, 020210 optoelectronics & photonics, Optics, law, Power spectral density, 0103 physical sciences, Phase noise, High resolution spectroscopy, 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering, [ PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-GEN-PH ] Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/General Physics [physics.gen-ph], [PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-INS-DET]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Instrumentation and Detectors [physics.ins-det], Physics::Atomic Physics, [ PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-INS-DET ] Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Instrumentation and Detectors [physics.ins-det], Physics, Cross-correlation, Absolute phase, business.industry, Spectral density, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), Phase measurement, Laser, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, [PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-GEN-PH]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/General Physics [physics.gen-ph], 3. Good health, Fourier transform, symbols, business, Noise (radio), Optics (physics.optics), Diode lasers, Physics - Optics
Abstract

Phase noise or frequency noise is a key metrics to evaluate the short term stability of a laser. This property is of a great interest for the applications but delicate to characterize, especially for narrow line-width lasers. In this letter, we demonstrate a digital cross correlation scheme to characterize the absolute phase noise of sub-hertz line-width lasers. Three 1,542 nm ultra-stable lasers are used in this approach. For each measurement two lasers act as references to characterize a third one. Phase noise power spectral density from 0.5 Hz to 0.8 MHz Fourier frequencies can be derived for each laser by a mere change in the configuration of the lasers. This is the first time showing the phase noise of sub-hertz line-width lasers with no reference limitation. We also present an analysis of the laser phase noise performance., 4 pages, 5 figures

Published
2017

32. Photonic microwave signals with zeptosecond-level absolute timing noise

Author

Michele Giunta, Wolfgang Hänsel, Yann Le Coq, Shubhashish Datta, Ronald Holzwarth, Pierre-Alain Tremblin, Daniele Nicolodi, Xiaopeng Xie, Romain Bouchand, Giorgio Santarelli, Matthias Lezius, Abhay Joshi, Michel Lours, Christophe Alexandre, University of Chineses Academy of Sciences, Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire national de métrologie et d'essais - Systèmes de Référence Temps-Espace (LNE - SYRTE), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Laboratoire Kastler Brossel (LKB (Lhomond)), Fédération de recherche du Département de physique de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure - ENS Paris (FRDPENS), École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS-PSL), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS-PSL), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik (MPQ), Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, University of Pune - India, CEDRIC. Traitement du signal et architectures électroniques (CEDRIC - LAETITIA), Centre d'études et de recherche en informatique et communications (CEDRIC), Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Informatique pour l'Industrie et l'Entreprise (ENSIIE)-Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers [CNAM] (CNAM), HESAM Université - Communauté d'universités et d'établissements Hautes écoles Sorbonne Arts et métiers université (HESAM)-HESAM Université - Communauté d'universités et d'établissements Hautes écoles Sorbonne Arts et métiers université (HESAM)-Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Informatique pour l'Industrie et l'Entreprise (ENSIIE)-Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers [CNAM] (CNAM), HESAM Université - Communauté d'universités et d'établissements Hautes écoles Sorbonne Arts et métiers université (HESAM)-HESAM Université - Communauté d'universités et d'établissements Hautes écoles Sorbonne Arts et métiers université (HESAM), Laboratoire Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences (LP2N), Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 (UB)-Institut d'Optique Graduate School (IOGS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Fédération de recherche du Département de physique de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure - ENS Paris (FRDPENS), École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS Paris), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS Paris), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1-Institut d'Optique Graduate School (IOGS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
Physics, Heterodyne, business.industry, FOS: Physical sciences, 02 engineering and technology, Photodetection, 021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology, 01 natural sciences, Signal, Noise floor, Noise (electronics), Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, 010309 optics, Frequency comb, Optics, 0103 physical sciences, Phase noise, 0210 nano-technology, business, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], Microwave, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, Physics - Optics, Optics (physics.optics)
Abstract

Photonic synthesis of radiofrequency revived the quest for unrivalled microwave purity by its seducing ability to convey the benefits of the optics to the microwave world. In this work, we perform a high-fidelity transfer of frequency stability between an optical reference and a microwave signal via a low-noise fiber-based frequency comb and cutting-edge photo-detection techniques. We demonstrate the generation of the purest microwave signal with a fractional frequency stability below 6.5 x 10^-16 at 1 s and a timing noise floor below 41 zs.Hz^-1/2 (phase noise below -173 dBc.Hz^-1 for a 12 GHz carrier). This outclasses existing sources and promises a new era for state-of-the-art microwave generation. The characterization is achieved by building two auxiliary low noise optoelectronic microwave reference and using a heterodyne cross-correlation scheme with lowermost detection noise. This unprecedented level of purity can impact domains such as radar systems, telecommunications and time-frequency metrology. Furthermore, the measurement methods developed here can benefit the characterization of a broad range of signals, beyond comb-based systems., Comment: 21 pages, 3 figures

Published
2017

33. Optical to microwave clock frequency ratios with a nearly continuous strontium optical lattice clock

Author

Daniele Nicolodi, E. Bookjans, Sébastien Bize, Jean-Luc Robyr, Yann Le Coq, J. Guena, S. Bilicki, Peter Rosenbusch, M. Abgrall, Rodolphe Le Targat, Gregoire Vallet, Chunyan Shi, Jérôme Lodewyck, Laboratoire national de métrologie et d'essais - Systèmes de Référence Temps-Espace (LNE - SYRTE), Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, and Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
Time delay and integration, Physics, [PHYS]Physics [physics], Optical lattice, Strontium, business.industry, Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph), Clock rate, General Engineering, chemistry.chemical_element, FOS: Physical sciences, 01 natural sciences, Metrology, Physics - Atomic Physics, 010309 optics, Computer Science::Hardware Architecture, Optics, Reliability (semiconductor), chemistry, 0103 physical sciences, 010306 general physics, business, Order of magnitude, Microwave, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS
Abstract

Optical lattice clocks are at the forefront of frequency metrology. Both the instability and systematic uncertainty of these clocks have been reported to be two orders of magnitude smaller than the best microwave clocks. For this reason, a redefinition of the SI second based on optical clocks seems possible in the near future. However, the operation of optical lattice clocks has not yet reached the reliability that microwave clocks have achieved so far. In this paper, we report on the operation of a strontium optical lattice clock that spans several weeks, with more than 80% uptime. We make use of this long integration time to demonstrate a reproducible measurement of frequency ratios between the strontium clock transition and microwave Cs primary and Rb secondary frequency standards.

Published
2016

34. The LISA Pathfinder mission

Author

Gerhard Heinzel, Domenico Giardini, J. Bogenstahl, N. Karnesis, C. García Marirrodriga, N. Brandt, H. Ward, S. Strandmoe, J. Reiche, M. Chmeissani, Mauro Hueller, H. Rozemeijer, A. Grynagier, Daniele Nicolodi, Oliver Jennrich, Paul McNamara, H.-B. Tu, M. Diaz-Aguilo, V. Hernández, J. H. Hough, R. Gerndt, G. Dixon, A. Schleicher, D. Nicolini, S. Waschke, Karsten Danzmann, Gudrun Wanner, A. F. Garcia Marin, P. Prat, I. Harrison, V. Ferrone, J. A. Romera Perez, Michele Armano, I. Cristofolini, J. Fauste, M. Schulte, Daniele Bortoluzzi, Peter Zweifel, Eric Plagnol, Juan Ramos-Castro, Felipe Guzman, J. Sanjuan, A. Conchillo, Miquel Nofrarías, Davor Mance, M. Freschi, M. Cruise, M. Caleno, F. Antonucci, D. Texier, S. Madden, Christian J. Killow, F. De Marchi, Stefano Vitale, A. Monsky, A.M. Taylor, F. Pedersen, Paolo Bosetti, D. Shaul, Pierre Binétruy, Matteo Benedetti, Michael Perreur-Lloyd, T. J. Sumner, Walter Fichter, M. Cesa, Tobias Ziegler, Rita Dolesi, Philippe Jetzer, Peter Wass, Ignacio Mateos, Ivan Lloro, X. Llamas, Priscilla Canizares, Lluis Gesa, Ewan Fitzsimons, B. Guillaume, A. Lobo, D. Hoyland, Ingo Diepholz, G. Auger, J. Huesler, Frank Steier, Antonella Cavalleri, Giuseppe D. Racca, R. Maarschalkerweerd, David Robertson, G. Congedo, Luigi Ferraioli, Catia Grimani, F. Gilbert, C. Trenkel, E. Mitchell, José F. F. Mendes, N. Dunbar, W. J. Weber, L. Stagnaro, B. Johlander, Martin Hewitson, Daniel Hollington, Heather Audley, APC - Cosmologie, Physique Corpusculaire et Cosmologie - Collège de France (PCC), Collège de France (CdF)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Collège de France (CdF)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-AstroParticule et Cosmologie (APC (UMR_7164)), Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7), APC - THEORIE, AstroParticule et Cosmologie (APC (UMR_7164)), PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Institut für theoretische Physik, Universität Hamburg (UHH)-Universität Hamburg (UHH), LISA, Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Observatoire de Paris, and Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
[PHYS]Physics [physics], Physics, Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous), [SDU.ASTR.CO]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Cosmology and Extra-Galactic Astrophysics [astro-ph.CO], 010308 nuclear & particles physics, business.industry, Gravitational wave, Astrophysics, 01 natural sciences, [PHYS.ASTR.CO]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]/Cosmology and Extra-Galactic Astrophysics [astro-ph.CO], Pathfinder, 0103 physical sciences, Free flight, Experimental methods, Aerospace engineering, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], business, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Inertial navigation system
Abstract

In this paper, we describe the current status of the LISA Pathfinder mission, a precursor mission aimed at demonstrating key technologies for future space-based gravitational wave detectors, like LISA. Since much of the flight hardware has already been constructed and tested, we will show that performance measurements and analysis of these flight components lead to an expected performance of the LISA Pathfinder which is a significant improvement over the mission requirements, and which actually reaches the LISA requirements over the entire LISA Pathfinder measurement band. © 2012 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Published
2016

35. Ultra-low phase noise frequency-comb-based microwave generation and characterization

Author

Daniele Nicolodi, Ronald Holzwarth, M. Lours, Xiaopeng Xie, Michele Giunta, Shubhashish Datta, Wolfgang Haensel, Yann Le Coq, Christophe Alexandre, Pierre-Alain Tremblin, Abhay Joshi, Matthias Lezius, Romain Bouchand, Giorgio Santarelli, Laboratoire national de métrologie et d'essais - Systèmes de Référence Temps-Espace (LNE - SYRTE), Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Chercheur indépendant, Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik (MPQ), Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Laboratoire Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences (LP2N), Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Institut d'Optique Graduate School (IOGS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Discovery Semiconductors Inc, CEDRIC. Traitement du signal et architectures électroniques (CEDRIC - LAETITIA), Centre d'études et de recherche en informatique et communications (CEDRIC), and Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Informatique pour l'Industrie et l'Entreprise (ENSIIE)-Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers [CNAM] (CNAM)-Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Informatique pour l'Industrie et l'Entreprise (ENSIIE)-Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers [CNAM] (CNAM)

Subjects
Materials science, business.industry, Absolute phase, Phase (waves), Physics::Optics, 02 engineering and technology, 021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology, 01 natural sciences, [SPI.TRON]Engineering Sciences [physics]/Electronics, 010309 optics, Frequency comb, Laser linewidth, Optics, 0103 physical sciences, Phase noise, Optoelectronics, 0210 nano-technology, business, Frequency modulation, Noise (radio), Microwave, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS
Abstract

We report on the generation of ultra-low phase noise microwave signals at 12GHz by photodetecting the pulse train of an Erbium-doped fiber-based optical frequency comb phase locked to a ultra-narrow linewidth ultra-stable laser at With advanced photodetection techniques and homemade phase noise measurement apparatus, our experiment demonstrates generation of a microwave source with absolute phase noise below −170dBc/Hz at 10kHz and above, and below −100dBc/Hz at 1Hz from a 12GHz carrier, which pushes even further the best results reported so far.

Published
2016

36. International strontium optical lattice clocks comparisons with an optical fiber link

Author

Christian Lisdat, Gesine Grosche, Nicolas Quintin, Chunyan Shi, Raupach, S. M. F., Grebing, C., Daniele Nicolodi, Fabio Stefani, Al-Masoudi, A., Dörscher, S., Sebastian Häfner, Jean-Luc Robyr, Nicola Chiodo, Slawomir Bilicki, Eva Bookjans, Koczwara, A., Koke, S., Kuhl, A., Fabrice Wiotte, Frédéric Meynadier, Emilie Camisard, Michel Abgrall, Michel Lours, Thomas Legero, Harald Schnatz, Uwe Sterr, Denker, H., Christian Chardonnet, Yann Le Coq, Giorgio Santarelli, Anne Amy-Klein, Rodolphe Le Targat, Jérôme Lodewyck, Olivier Lopez, Paul-Eric POTTIE, Henry, Florence, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), RENATER, Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Métrologie des fréquences optiques, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Références micro-ondes et échelles de temps, Théorie et métrologie, Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers (LPL), Université Paris 13 (UP13)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Institut für Erdmessung, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Laboratoire Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences (LP2N), and Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Institut d'Optique Graduate School (IOGS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
[PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], [PHYS.ASTR] Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]
Abstract

International audience

Published
2016

37. A clock network for geodesy and fundamental science

Author

S. Bilicki, A. Kuhl, Nicola Chiodo, Harald Schnatz, S. Dörscher, Emilie Camisard, C. Chardonnet, Nicolas Quintin, A. Al-Masoudi, Heiner Denker, A. Koczwara, Paul-Eric Pottie, M. Abgrall, E. Bookjans, Daniele Nicolodi, C. Shi, Uwe Sterr, R. Le Targat, Jérôme Lodewyck, Christian Grebing, Sebastian Koke, Giorgio Santarelli, Olivier Lopez, Thomas Legero, Jean-Luc Robyr, Gesine Grosche, Anne Amy-Klein, Y. Le Coq, Fabrice Wiotte, Fabio Stefani, S. M. F. Raupach, M. Lours, Christian Lisdat, Sebastian Häfner, F. Meynadier, Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers (LPL), and Université Paris 13 (UP13)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph), Science, Physics beyond the Standard Model, General Physics and Astronomy, FOS: Physical sciences, Quantum metrology, 01 natural sciences, Optical clock performance, Article, General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Clock synchronization, Physics - Atomic Physics, 010309 optics, Optical frequencies, Lattice (order), 0103 physical sciences, Electronic engineering, 010306 general physics, Dewey Decimal Classification::500 | Naturwissenschaften, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, Quantum optics, Physics, Multidisciplinary, Atomic and molecular interactions with photons, General Chemistry, magnetooptical trap, Atomic and molecular interactions with photons, Quantum metrology, Quantum optics, MOT, Clock network, clock, Master clock, ddc:500, [SPI.SIGNAL]Engineering Sciences [physics]/Signal and Image processing
Abstract

Leveraging the unrivaled performance of optical clocks in applications in fundamental physics beyond the standard model, in geo-sciences, and in astronomy requires comparing the frequency of distant optical clocks truthfully. Meeting this requirement, we report on the first comparison and agreement of fully independent optical clocks separated by 700 km being only limited by the uncertainties of the clocks themselves. This is achieved by a phase-coherent optical frequency transfer via a 1415 km long telecom fiber link that enables substantially better precision than classical means of frequency transfer. The fractional precision in comparing the optical clocks of three parts in $10^{17}$ was reached after only 1000 s averaging time, which is already 10 times better and more than four orders of magnitude faster than with any other existing frequency transfer method. The capability of performing high resolution international clock comparisons paves the way for a redefinition of the unit of time and an all-optical dissemination of the SI-second., Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, 1 table

Published
2016

38. Sub-Femto- g Free Fall for Space-Based Gravitational Wave Observatories: LISA Pathfinder Results

Author

R. Gerndt, F. Rivas, Daniele Bortoluzzi, L. Carbone, L. Mendes, Ph. Jetzer, Walter Fichter, Jacob Slutsky, Valerio Ferroni, D. Hoyland, Ulrich Johann, Gudrun Wanner, Miquel Nofrarías, Peter Wass, Juan Ramos-Castro, Pierre Binétruy, Ivan Lloro, Lluis Gesa, G. Auger, C. Trenkel, Stefano Vitale, James Ira Thorpe, Antoine Petiteau, A. Grynagier, Paul McNamara, A. F. García Marín, G. Congedo, Luigi Ferraioli, M. Born, R. Maarschalkerweerd, Karsten Danzmann, V Wand, C. Zanoni, A. Monsky, Ruggero Stanga, Ingo Diepholz, Carlos F. Sopuerta, F. Steier, A. Cesarini, José F. F. Mendes, Tobias Ziegler, N. Korsakova, G. Russano, F. Guzmán, H. Rozemeijer, M. Hewitson, A. Schleicher, B. Johlander, J. P. López-Zaragoza, Michael Perreur-Lloyd, Michele Armano, Daniel Hollington, Daniele Vetrugno, D. Wealthy, B. Kaune, S. Madden, P. Sarra, A. Zambotti, M. Diaz-Aguilo, Christian J. Killow, Peter Zweifel, Davor Mance, D. Shaul, T. J. Sumner, L. Liu, J. Grzymisch, H. Ward, M. Freschi, L. Di Fiore, Oliver Jennrich, Michael Tröbs, H. B. Tu, R. Flatscher, M. Caleno, D. I. Robertson, J. A. Lobo, S. Paczkowski, Ferran Gibert, L. Martin-Polo, P. Prat, I. Harrison, P. Pivato, Ignacio Mateos, C. García Marirrodriga, Mauro Hueller, D. Texier, A. Wittchen, U. Ragnit, Aniello Grado, Heather Audley, J Sanjuán, C. Warren, J. Reiche, B. Rais, Henri Inchauspe, G. Dixon, Eric Plagnol, V. Martín, Domenico Giardini, Daniele Nicolodi, N. Brandt, Nikolaos Karnesis, Giacomo Ciani, Antonella Cavalleri, J. Martino, R. Giusteri, L. Wissel, Rita Dolesi, J. Baird, Massimo Bassan, R. De Rosa, E. D. Fitzsimons, Gerhard Heinzel, W. J. Weber, A. M. Cruise, F. Martin-Porqueras, M. de Deus Silva, N. Dunbar, Catia Grimani, AstroParticule et Cosmologie (APC (UMR_7164)), Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament d'Enginyeria Electrònica, UK Space Agency, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J. T., Bassan, M., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Caleno, M., Carbone, L., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Ciani, G., Congedo, G., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., De Deus Silva, M., DE ROSA, Rosario, Diaz Aguiló, M., Di Fiore, L., Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fichter, W., Fitzsimons, E. D., Flatscher, R., Freschi, M., García Marín, A. F., García Marirrodriga, C., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Guzmán, F., Grado, A., Grimani, C., Grynagier, A., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johann, U., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., López Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin Porqueras, F., Madden, S., Mateos, I., Mcnamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Monsky, A., Nicolodi, D., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Raïs, B., Ramos Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rozemeijer, H., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Sanjuán, J., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Shaul, D., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Stanga, R., Steier, F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Trenkel, C., Tröbs, M., Tu, H. B., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wand, V., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Warren, C., Wass, P. J., Wealthy, D., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., Zambotti, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., Zweifel, P., Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP), Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Observatoire de Paris, and PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)

Subjects
General Physics, Gravitational-wave observatory, detector: performance, Physics, Multidisciplinary, General Physics and Astronomy, Astrophysics, 01 natural sciences, 7. Clean energy, Noise (electronics), 09 Engineering, LISA Pathfinder, Gravitational waves, Acceleration, Physics and Astronomy (all), Square root, Ones gravitacionals, gas, 0103 physical sciences, Orders of magnitude (speed), interferometer: satellite, noise: acceleration, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, 01 Mathematical Sciences, MISSION, Physics, LISA, Science & Technology, 02 Physical Sciences, density: spectral, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, Gravitational wave, Settore FIS/01 - Fisica Sperimentale, Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, gravitational radiation, Spectral density, gravitational radiation detector: satellite, detector: sensitivity, gravitation, Physical Sciences, viscosity, [PHYS.GRQC]Physics [physics]/General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology [gr-qc], Brownian noise, readout, INTERFEROMETER
Abstract

We report the first results of the LISA Pathfinder in-flight experiment. The results demonstrate that two free-falling reference test masses, such as those needed for a space-based gravitational wave observatory like LISA, can be put in free fall with a relative acceleration noise with a square root of the power spectral density of 5.2 +/- 0.1 fm s(exp -2)/square root of Hz, or (0.54 +/- 0.01) x 10(exp -15) g/square root of Hz, with g the standard gravity, for frequencies between 0.7 and 20 mHz. This value is lower than the LISA Pathfinder requirement by more than a factor 5 and within a factor 1.25 of the requirement for the LISA mission, and is compatible with Brownian noise from viscous damping due to the residual gas surrounding the test masses. Above 60 mHz the acceleration noise is dominated by interferometer displacement readout noise at a level of (34.8 +/- 0.3) fm square root of Hz, about 2 orders of magnitude better than requirements. At f less than or equal to 0.5 mHz we observe a low-frequency tail that stays below 12 fm s(exp -2)/square root of Hz down to 0.1 mHz. This performance would allow for a space-based gravitational wave observatory with a sensitivity close to what was originally foreseen for LISA.

Published
2016

39. Quantum cascade laser frequency stabilisation at the sub-Hz level

Author

Christophe Daussy, Daniele Nicolodi, Christian Chardonnet, Bruno Chanteau, B. Argence, Michel Abgrall, Yann Le Coq, Anne Amy-Klein, Benoît Darquié, Olivier Lopez, MMTF, Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers (LPL), Université Paris 13 (UP13)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris 13 (UP13)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire national de métrologie et d'essais - Systèmes de Référence Temps-Espace (LNE - SYRTE), Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), CNRS, Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR BLANC LIOM 2011 BS04 009 01, ANR QUIGARDE 2012 ANR-12-ASTR-0028-03 and ANR NCPCHEM 2010 BLAN 724 3), Labex First-TF (ANR 10 LABX 48 01), AS GRAM and Université Paris 13., ANR-11-BS04-0009,LIOM,Lien optique multiplexé pour la métrologie et la physique fondamentale(2011), ANR-10-BLAN-0724,NCPCHEM,Non-Conservation de la Parité dans les Systèmes Moléculaires(2010), and ANR-12-ASTR-0028,QUIGARDE,Lasers à cascade quantiques émettant autour de 10 µm pour la détection à distance de composés gazeux(2012)

Subjects
Optical fiber, Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph), FOS: Physical sciences, 01 natural sciences, Signal, law.invention, Physics - Atomic Physics, 010309 optics, Frequency comb, Optics, [PHYS.QPHY]Physics [physics]/Quantum Physics [quant-ph], law, 0103 physical sciences, Quantum metrology, frequency comb, 010306 general physics, Absorption (electromagnetic radiation), Physics, Quantum Physics, [PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-OPTICS]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Optics [physics.optics], [PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-ATOM-PH]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Atomic Physics [physics.atom-ph], business.industry, Laser, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, frequency stabilisation, Cascade, QCL, business, Quantum cascade laser, Quantum Physics (quant-ph), Optics (physics.optics), Physics - Optics
Abstract

International audience; Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCL) are increasingly being used to probe the mid-infrared “molecular fingerprint” region. This prompted efforts towards improving their spectral performance, in order to reach ever-higher resolution and precision. Here, we report the stabilisation of a QCL onto an optical frequency comb. We demonstrate a relative stability and accuracy of 2x10-15 and 10-14, respectively. The comb is stabilised to a remote near-infrared ultra-stable laser referenced to frequency primary standards, whose signal is transferred via an optical fibre link. The stability and frequency traceability of our QCL exceed those demonstrated so far by two orders of magnitude. As a demonstration of its capability, we then use it to perform high-resolution molecular spectroscopy. We measure absorption frequencies with an 8x10-13 relative uncertainty. This confirms the potential of this setup for ultra-high precision measurements with molecules, such as our ongoing effort towards testing the parity symmetry by probing chiral species.

Published
2015

40. Spectral purity transfer between optical wavelengths at the 10−18 level

Author

B. Argence, Yann Le Coq, Giorgio Santarelli, Rodolphe Le Targat, Wei Zhang, and Daniele Nicolodi

Subjects
Work (thermodynamics), Wavelength, Materials science, Optics, business.industry, law, Transfer (computing), business, Laser, Stability (probability), Order of magnitude, law.invention, Spectral purity
Abstract

An optical-frequency comb-based scheme is demonstrated that transfers a 4.5 × 10−16 fractional frequency stability from a 1,062-nm-wavelength laser to a 1,542-nm-wavelength laser. Transfer is also reported down to 4 × 10−18 at 1 s, which is one order of magnitude below that of previously reported work with comparable systems.

Published
2014

41. Quantum Cascade Laser at Hz-Level by Use of a Frequency Comb and an Optical Link

Author

Bruno Chanteau, C. Chardonnet, Olivier Lopez, M. Abgrall, B. Argence, Anne Amy-Klein, Christophe Daussy, Daniele Nicolodi, Benoît Darquié, Y. Le Coq, Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Métrologie des fréquences optiques, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, and Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
Distributed feedback laser, Materials science, business.industry, Optical link, Far-infrared laser, Laser, Signal, law.invention, Frequency comb, Optics, law, Quantum cascade laser, business, Spectroscopy, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]
Abstract

International audience; We present a frequency chain which enables to transfer coherently the stability and the accuracy of an ultrastable laser emitting at 1.54 mu m to the mid-infrared region. It includes an optical frequency comb and an ultrastable 1.54 mu m frequency signal, referenced to primary standards and transferred from LNE-SYRTE to LPL through an optical link. This system gives us the ability to transfer frequency stability in the range of 10(-15) and accuracy in the range of 10(-14) from 1.54 mu m to a wide spectral range in the mid-infrared domain. With this set-up, we stabilized a Quantum Cascade Laser emitting at 10.3 mu m at an unprecedented Hz-level.

Published
2014

42. Toward a highly stable master laser for the interrogation of SYRTE's Sr and Hg optical lattice clocks

Author

O. Gobron, R. Le Targat, K. Predehl, Daniele Nicolodi, Y. Le Coq, Philippe Goldner, Alban Ferrier, Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Métrologie des fréquences optiques, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, and Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
Optical amplifier, Physics, Optical lattice, Distributed feedback laser, business.industry, Doping, Physics::Optics, Laser, law.invention, Wavelength, Optics, law, Spectral hole burning, Optoelectronics, Physics::Atomic Physics, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], business, Spectroscopy
Abstract

We report on the current developments at LNE-SYRTE to realize an ultra-stable laser based on spectral hole burning spectroscopy of rare-earth doped crystals at cryogenic temperature. Our goal is to realize a cw laser with a stability below 10−16, suitable for quantum projection noise limited interrogation of optical lattice clocks after transfer to optical clocks wavelength via an optical frequency comb. Our laser system currently comprises two 1160nm lasers, one referenced to a pre-stabilization cavity and the second offset phase-locked to the first. After frequency doubling, we obtain spectral hole burning patterns in Eu3+:Y2SiO5 near 4K.

Published
2014

43. Spectral purity transfer between optical wavelengths at the $10^{-18}$ level

Author

Wei Zhang, Daniele Nicolodi, B. Argence, Rodolphe Le Targat, Giorgio Santarelli, Yann Le Coq, Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), lp2n-06,lp2n-14, Laboratoire Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences (LP2N), Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 (UB)-Institut d'Optique Graduate School (IOGS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 (UB)-Institut d'Optique Graduate School (IOGS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1-Institut d'Optique Graduate School (IOGS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1-Institut d'Optique Graduate School (IOGS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Métrologie des fréquences optiques, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, and Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, FOS: Physical sciences, Physics::Optics, Optical modulation amplitude, law.invention, Frequency comb, Optics, law, Ultrafast laser spectroscopy, Laser power scaling, [PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-INS-DET]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Instrumentation and Detectors [physics.ins-det], Spectral purity, Optical amplifier, Physics, Distributed feedback laser, [PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-OPTICS]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Optics [physics.optics], business.industry, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), Laser, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Optoelectronics, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], business, Optics (physics.optics), Physics - Optics
Abstract

International audience; Ultra-stable lasers and optical frequency combs have been the enabling technologies for the tremendous progress of precise optical spectroscopy in the last ten years. To improve laser frequency stabilization beyond the thermal-noise fundamental limit of traditional room-temperature high-finesse optical cavities, new solutions have been recently developed. These being complex and often wavelength specific, the capability to transfer their spectral purity to any optical wavelengths is highly desirable. Here we present an optical frequency comb based scheme transferring a $4.5 \times 10^{-16}$ fractional frequency stability from a 1062 nm wavelength laser to a 1542 nm laser. We demonstrate that this scheme does not hinder the transfer down to $3 \times 10^{-18}$ at one second, two orders of magnitude below previously reported work with comparable systems. This exceeds by more than one order of magnitude the stability of any optical oscillator demonstrated to date, and satisfies the stability requirement for quantum-projection-noise limited optical lattice clocks.

Published
2014

44. Long distance phase-coherent link between near- and mid-infrared frequencies

Author

C. Chardonnet, Y. Le Coq, M. Abgrall, B. Chanteau, Benoît Darquié, B. Argence, Olivier Lopez, Giorgio Santarelli, Christophe Daussy, Daniele Nicolodi, and Anne Amy-Klein

Subjects
Physics, Distributed feedback laser, business.industry, Far-infrared laser, Phase (waves), Laser, Atomic fountain, Atomic clock, law.invention, Optics, law, Laser power scaling, business, Laser Doppler vibrometer, Astrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysics
Abstract

We present a new method for accurate mid-infrared frequency measurements and stabilization to a near-infrared ultra-stable frequency reference, transmitted with a long-distance fibre link and continuously monitored against state-of-the-art atomic fountain clocks. We demonstrate the frequency stabilization of a mid-infrared laser with fractional stability better than 4×10-14 at 1 s averaging. This new stabilization scheme gives us the ability to transfer frequency stability in the range of 10-15 or even better, currently accessible in the near-infrared or in the visible, to mid-infrared lasers in a wide frequency range.

Published
2013

45. Ultra-stable long distance optical frequency distribution using the Internet fiber network and application to high-precision molecular spectroscopy

Author

Michel Abgrall, Bruno Chanteau, Paul-Eric Pottie, Anthony Bercy, Daniele Rovera, B. Argence, Daniele Nicolodi, C. Chardonnet, Joseph Achkar, Amale Kanj, Benoît Darquié, Y. Le Coq, Wei Zhang, A. Haboucha, Giorgio Santarelli, Olivier Lopez, Anne Amy-Klein, Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers (LPL), Université Paris 13 (UP13)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Métrologie des fréquences optiques, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Références micro-ondes et échelles de temps, Laboratoire Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences (LP2N), and Université de Bordeaux (UB)-Institut d'Optique Graduate School (IOGS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
Physics, History, business.industry, Optical link, Bandwidth (signal processing), Rotational–vibrational spectroscopy, Laser, Computer Science Applications, Education, law.invention, Optics, law, Electronic engineering, Time transfer, The Internet, business, Spectroscopy, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], Order of magnitude
Abstract

International audience; We report an optical link of 540 km for ultrastable frequency distribution over the Internet fiber network. The phase-noise compensated link shows a fractional frequency instability in full bandwidth of 3×10-14 at one second measurement time and 2×10-18 at 30 000 s. This work is a significant step towards a sustainable wide area ultrastable optical frequency distribution and comparison network. Time transfer was demonstrated simultaneously on the same link and led to an absolute time accuracy (250 ps) and long-term timing stability (20 ps) which outperform the conventional satellite transfer methods by one order of magnitude. Current development addresses the question of multiple users distribution in the same metropolitan area. We demonstrate on-line extraction and first results show frequency stability at the same level as with conventional link. We also report an application to coherent frequency transfer to the mid-infrared. We demonstrate the frequency stabilisation of a mid-infrared laser to the near-infrared frequency reference transferred through the optical link. Fractional stability better than 4×10-14 at 1 s averaging time was obtained, opening the way to ultrahigh resolution spectroscopy of molecular rovibrational transitions.

Published
2013

46. Peignes de fréquences femtosecondes pour la mesure des fréquences optiques

Author

Andre N. Luiten, Daniele Nicolodi, M. Lours, S. Seidelin, Tao Li, A. Haboucha, J. Millo, Milan Fischer, Yann Kersalé, Y. Le Coq, Ronald Holzwarth, Giorgio Santarelli, Rodolphe Boudot, Michel Abgrall, J. Guéna, R. Le Targat, Z. Xu, Wei Zhang, André Clairon, S. Bize, Laboratoire national de métrologie et d'essais - Systèmes de Référence Temps-Espace (LNE - SYRTE), Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut d'électronique fondamentale (IEF), Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Propriétés Optiques des Matériaux et Applications (POMA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université d'Angers (UA), Franche-Comté Électronique Mécanique, Thermique et Optique - Sciences et Technologies (UMR 6174) (FEMTO-ST), Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbeliard (UTBM)-Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et des Microtechniques (ENSMM)-Université de Franche-Comté (UFC), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC)-Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Nano-Optique et Forces (NOF), Institut Néel (NEEL), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire de Spectroscopie Hertzienne de l'ENS (LSH-ENS), École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS Paris), The University of Western Australia (UWA), Université d'Angers (UA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbeliard (UTBM)-Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et des Microtechniques (ENSMM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Franche-Comté (UFC), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC)-Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC), Nano-Optique et Forces (NEEL - NOF), and École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS-PSL)

Subjects
Physics, [PHYS]Physics [physics], business.industry, Terahertz radiation, General Medicine, Laser, 01 natural sciences, Atomic clock, law.invention, Metrology, 010309 optics, Optics, Optical frequencies, law, 0103 physical sciences, Femtosecond, Optical clock, 010306 general physics, business, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], Microwave, ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS
Abstract

The advent of frequency combs, in the early 2000s, was a revolution for the metrology of optical frequencies (a few hundreds of terahertz), and stimulated the development of a new generation of atomic clocks, this time referenced to an optical frequency. These combs, based on lasers delivering femtosecond long pulses, are today the most efficient and reliable way to compare an optical clock to microwave primary frequency standards, or directly two optical clocks operated at different frequencies. In this paper we report on the work carried out at LNESYRTE to characterize these devices. We describe the steps necessary to have the combs performing such that they do not limit the frequency comparison between the various clocks of our laboratory.

Published
2013

47. Mid-infrared laser phase-locking to a remote near-infrared frequency reference for high precision molecular spectroscopy

Author

F. Auguste, Daniele Nicolodi, Michel Abgrall, Giorgio Santarelli, C. Chardonnet, Wei Zhang, B. Argence, Bruno Chanteau, Benoît Darquié, Olivier Lopez, Anne Amy-Klein, Y. Le Coq, Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers (LPL), Université Paris 13 (UP13)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), MMTF, Université Paris 13 (UP13)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris 13 (UP13)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire national de métrologie et d'essais - Systèmes de Référence Temps-Espace (LNE - SYRTE), Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), lp2n-06,lp2n-14, Laboratoire Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences (LP2N), Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1-Institut d'Optique Graduate School (IOGS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1-Institut d'Optique Graduate School (IOGS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), ANR, CNRS, and Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 (UB)-Institut d'Optique Graduate School (IOGS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 (UB)-Institut d'Optique Graduate School (IOGS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
Infrared, Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph), General Physics and Astronomy, FOS: Physical sciences, 01 natural sciences, Atomic fountain, law.invention, Physics - Atomic Physics, 010309 optics, Laser linewidth, Optics, [PHYS.QPHY]Physics [physics]/Quantum Physics [quant-ph], law, 0103 physical sciences, 010306 general physics, Spectroscopy, Astrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysics, Physics, [PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-OPTICS]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Optics [physics.optics], Quantum Physics, business.industry, Near-infrared spectroscopy, Laser, 06.20.-f (Metrology), 42.62.Eh (Metrological applications, optical frequency synthesizers for precision spectroscopy), 07.57.Ty (Infrared spectrometers, auxiliary equipment, and technique), Atomic clock, Mode-locking, business, [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph], Quantum Physics (quant-ph), Physics - Optics, Optics (physics.optics)
Abstract

International audience; We present a new method for accurate mid-infrared frequency measurements and stabilization to a near-infrared ultra-stable frequency reference, transmitted with a long-distance fibre link and continuously monitored against state-of-the-art atomic fountain clocks. As a first application, we measure the frequency of an OsO4 rovibrational molecular line around 10 µm with a state-of-the-art uncertainty of 8x10-13. We also demonstrate the frequency stabilization of a mid-infrared laser with fractional stability better than 4x10-14 at 1 s averaging time and a line-width below 17 Hz. This new stabilization scheme gives us the ability to transfer frequency stability in the range of 10-15 or even better, currently accessible in the near-infrared or in the visible, to mid-infrared lasers in a wide frequency range.

Published
2013

48. The LISA Pathfinder Mission

Author

Ivan Lloro, G. Russano, Gerhard Heinzel, C. García Marirrodriga, J. Reiche, Matteo Benedetti, S. Madden, J. Bogenstahl, Víctor S. Martín, M. Caleno, H. B. Tu, P. Prat, Peter Zweifel, M. Hueller, Ph. Jetzer, E. Mitchell, N. Dumbar, Heather Audley, D. Wealthy, José F. F. Mendes, X. Llamas, H. Ward, J. A. Romera Perez, M. Cruise, C. Trenkel, Stefano Vitale, A. Grynagier, Ignacio Mateos, Karsten Danzmann, Eric Plagnol, M. Diaz-Aguilo, Oliver Jennrich, Daniele Bortoluzzi, W. J. Weber, Paul McNamara, T. J. Sumner, Christian J. Killow, Domenico Giardini, Martin Hewitson, A. Lobo, Walter Fichter, Daniel Hollington, Valerio Ferroni, G. Dixton, Carlos F. Sopuerta, Miquel Nofrarías, Antonella Cavalleri, Felipe Guzman, D. Hoyland, Davor Mance, David Robertson, G. Congedo, Luigi Ferraioli, N. Korsakova, Michael Perreur-Lloyd, Ewan Fitzsimons, Ingo Diepholz, Alexander Schleicher, D. Texier, N. Brandt, A.M. Taylor, F. De Marchi, Rita Dolesi, Daniele Nicolodi, Gudrun Wanner, Juan Ramos-Castro, Ferran Gibert, R. Gerndt, Tobias Ziegler, Michele Armano, F. Antonucci, M. Freschi, Catia Grimani, S. Wen, J. Huesler, B. Johlander, Ian Harrison, S. Waschke, Peter Wass, N. Karnesis, Pierre Binétruy, Lluis Gesa, G. Auger, R. Maarschalkerweerd, H. Rozemeijer, D. Shaul, and J. Fauste

Subjects
Physics, Gravitational wave, business.industry, Detector, Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Propulsion, Space exploration, Metrology, Gravitation, Pathfinder, Optics, Space and Planetary Science, Inertial measurement unit, Physics::Space Physics, Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, Aerospace engineering, business, Mathematical Physics
Abstract

LISA Pathfinder (formerly known as SMART-2) is an European Space Agency mission designed to pave the way for the joint ESA/NASA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission by testing in flight the critical technologies required for space-borne gravitational wave detection; it will put two test masses in a near-perfect gravitational free-fall and control and measure their motion with unprecedented accuracy. This is achieved through technology comprising inertial sensors, high precision laser metrology, drag-free control, and an ultra precise micro-Newton propulsion system. LISA Pathfinder (LPF) essentially mimics one arm of spaceborne gravitational wave detectors by shrinking the million kilometre scale armlengths down to a few tens of centimetres, giving up the sensitivity to gravitational waves, but keeping the measurement technology. The scientific objective of the LISA Pathfinder mission consists then of the first in-flight test of low frequency gravitational wave detection metrology. In this paper I will give a brief overview of the mission, focusing on scientific and technical goals.

Published
2013

49. LNE-SYRTE Optical frequencies activities

Author

Rinat Tyumenev, Mikhail Gurov, Xianzhong Zheng, Chunyan Shi, Daniele Nicolodi, Bérengère Argence, Jérôme Lodewyck, Rodolphe Le Targat, Yann Le Coq, Paul-Eric POTTIE, Giorgio Santarelli, Sébastien Bize, Systèmes de Référence Temps Espace (SYRTE), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Métrologie des fréquences optiques, Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris, and Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Subjects
[PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]
Abstract

International audience

Published
2012

50. Interaction between stray electrostatic fields and a charged free-falling test mass

Author

H. B. Tu, W. J. Weber, Mauro Hueller, Antonella Cavalleri, Stefano Vitale, Rita Dolesi, F. Antonucci, and Daniele Nicolodi

Subjects
Physics, Field (physics), Gravitational wave, Demagnetizing field, FOS: Physical sciences, General Physics and Astronomy, Charge (physics), General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc), Electrostatics, Electric charge, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, Classical mechanics, Torsion pendulum clock, Atomic physics, Noise (radio)
Abstract

We present an experimental analysis of force noise caused by stray electrostatic fields acting on a charged test mass inside a conducting enclosure, a key problem for precise gravitational experiments. Measurement of the average field that couples to test mass charge, and its fluctuations, is performed with two independent torsion pendulum techniques, including direct measurement of the forces caused by a change in electrostatic charge. We analyze the problem with an improved electrostatic model that, coupled with the experimental data, also indicates how to correctly measure and null the stray field that interacts with test mass charge. Our measurements allow a conservative upper limit on acceleration noise, of 2 fm/s$^2$\rthz\ for frequencies above 0.1 mHz, for the interaction between stray fields and charge in the LISA gravitational wave mission., Minor edits in PRL publication process

Published
2012

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