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Optical frequency metrology

Author

Listed:
  • Th. Udem

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik)

  • R. Holzwarth

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik)

  • T. W. Hänsch

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik)

Abstract

Extremely narrow optical resonances in cold atoms or single trapped ions can be measured with high resolution. A laser locked to such a narrow optical resonance could serve as a highly stable oscillator for an all-optical atomic clock. However, until recently there was no reliable clockwork mechanism that could count optical frequencies of hundreds of terahertz. Techniques using femtosecond-laser frequency combs, developed within the past few years, have solved this problem. The ability to count optical oscillations of more than 1015 cycles per second facilitates high-precision optical spectroscopy, and has led to the construction of an all-optical atomic clock that is expected eventually to outperform today's state-of-the-art caesium clocks.

Suggested Citation

  • Th. Udem & R. Holzwarth & T. W. Hänsch, 2002. "Optical frequency metrology," Nature, Nature, vol. 416(6877), pages 233-237, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:416:y:2002:i:6877:d:10.1038_416233a
    DOI: 10.1038/416233a
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Xin & Huang, Kai-Wei & Qiu, Qing-Yang & Xiong, Hao, 2023. "Nonreciprocal double-carrier frequency combs in cavity magnonics," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    2. Luo, Si & Zhang, Yusheng & Yao, Xiankun & Ling, Qiang & Tao, Chenning & Guan, Zuguang & Chen, Daru & Cui, Yudong, 2024. "Dichromatic soliton molecule modeled by two cubic–quintic Ginzburg–Landau equations coupled with a cross phase modulation term," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    3. Seidel, Thomas G. & Javaloyes, Julien & Gurevich, Svetlana V., 2025. "Coherent pulse interactions in mode-locked semiconductor lasers," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    4. Liu, Yilou & Zhao, Rui-Shan & Zhang, Kai-Kai & Jia, Ziyu & Wan, Ren-Gang & Sun, Hui & Yang, Wen-Xing & Xie, Xiao-Tao, 2024. "Optical frequency combs and chaos in a hybrid atom–cavity optomagnonical system via the synergy of double-probe fields," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    5. Kunpeng Jia & Yuancheng Cai & Xinwei Yi & Chenye Qin & Zexing Zhao & Xiaohan Wang & Yunfeng Liu & Xiaofan Zhang & Shanshan Cheng & Xiaoshun Jiang & Chong Sheng & Yongming Huang & Jianjun Yu & Hui Liu , 2025. "Low-noise frequency synthesis and terahertz wireless communication driven by compact turnkey Kerr combs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Tlidi, M. & Bataille-Gonzalez, M. & Clerc, M.G. & Bahloul, L. & Coulibaly, S. & Kostet, B. & Castillo-Pinto, C. & Panajotov, K., 2023. "Isolas of localized structures and Raman–Kerr frequency combs in micro-structured resonators," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    7. Lebing Chen & Gaihua Ye & Cynthia Nnokwe & Xing-Chen Pan & Katsumi Tanigaki & Guanghui Cheng & Yong P. Chen & Jiaqiang Yan & David G. Mandrus & Andres E. Llacsahuanga Allcca & Nathan Giles-Donovan & R, 2025. "Spontaneously formed phonon frequency combs in van der Waals solid CrGeTe3 and CrSiTe3," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.
    8. Gregory Moille & Edgar F. Perez & Jordan R. Stone & Ashutosh Rao & Xiyuan Lu & Tahmid Sami Rahman & Yanne K. Chembo & Kartik Srinivasan, 2021. "Ultra-broadband Kerr microcomb through soliton spectral translation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    9. Qiang Wang & Zhen Wang & Hui Zhang & Shoulin Jiang & Yingying Wang & Wei Jin & Wei Ren, 2022. "Dual-comb photothermal spectroscopy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    10. Hussein M. E. Hussein & Seunghwi Kim & Matteo Rinaldi & Andrea Alù & Cristian Cassella, 2024. "Passive frequency comb generation at radiofrequency for ranging applications," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.

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