Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics Letters

Comparison of Three Ultrastable Lasers with a Femtosecond Frequency Comb

K. S. Kudeyarov, Artem A. Golovizin, A. S. Borisenko, Nikita O. Zhadnov, Ilia V. Zalivako, D. S. Kryuchkov, Emil Chiglintsev, Gulnara A. Vishnyakova, Ksenia Yu. Khabarova, N. Kolachevsky

Published Sep 1, 2021• 9 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The comparison of optical oscillators is used both to determine their spectral characteristics and to perform fundamental research. To describe each individual laser system, it is necessary to compare at least three independent laser oscillators. Three ultrastable lasers with wavelengths of 1140, 1550, and 871 nm located in different laboratories at the Lebedev Physical Institute have been compared. A femtosecond frequency comb has been used to transfer stability between different spectral ranges. A fractional frequency instability has been obtained with the three-cornered hat method and phase noise of each laser has been analyzed. Using this method, it has been shown that the characteristics of the laser system at a wavelength of 871 nm are appropriate to control the quantum state of an optical qubit on a quadrupole transition in an ytterbium ion with a n-atural width of 3.1 Hz.

DOI
10.1134/s0021364021170082

Related papers

Development of an ultra-stable laser in the 1.5 µm band for optical frequency transfer over optical fibre

Benjamin Parker, Stephen A. Webster, S.N. Lea +2 more

Comparison of microwave frequency standards by satellite techniques is currently limited in instability at the 10-15level at one day [1]. However, the best optical frequency standards have already demonstrated an instability of ~ 5 × 10-17at 2000 s and an estimated uncertainty of 9 × 10-18[2]. The predicted improvement in optical frequency standards motivates the need for a new transfer method capable of performing below these predicted levels of instability. The transmission of cw optical frequencies through optical fibre networks is the most promising alternative to satellite methods when it comes to comparing remote optical frequency standards. Intra-lab comparison of optical frequency standards can already be carried out with the use of femtosecond optical frequency combs, which can easily bridge the frequency gap between the different standards under test. However, a particularly more challenging task is to compare different standards at remote European laboratories. The comparison of remote standards, particularly like-for-like systems (such as the Yb+clocks at NPL and PTB), will be important in determining the relative uncertainty and reproducibility of these clocks. For this remote comparison method to operate below the instability level of the optical standards, a highly stable phase-coherent local oscillator is needed so as not to degrade the stability of the atomic reference being compared.

European Frequency and Time Forum•Apr 1, 2010•0 citations

Comparison of two single-ion optical frequency standards at the hertz level

T. Schneider, Chr. Tamm, E. Peik

We describe experimental investigations of an optical frequency standard based on a single laser-cooled /sup 171/Yb/sup +/ ion confined in a radiofrequency Paul trap. The electric quadrupole transition from the /sup 2/S/sub 1/2 /(F=0) ground state to the /sup 2/D/sub 3/2/(F=2) state at 435.5 nm is used as the reference transition. The transition was resolved with a Fourier-limited width of approximately 30 Hz. In order to investigate the instability and accuracy of a future frequency standard based on the reference transition, a first experiment was done comparing two laser frequencies stabilized individually to two separate ions in different traps. As a result we found a relative frequency instability /spl sigma//sub y/(640 s)=1.5/spl middot/10/sup -15/ for the difference of the two laser frequencies. We also derived a first estimate /spl Theta/(/sup 2/D/sub 3/2/)=(3.9/spl plusmn/1.9)ea/sub 0//sup 2/ for the electric quadrupole moment of the /sup 2/D/sub 3/2/ state.

Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS)•Jul 8, 2004•6 citations

Compact ultrastable laser system for spectroscopy of 2S1/2 → 2D3/2 quadrupole transition in 171Yb+ ion

Ilia V. Zalivako, Ilya A. Semerikov, Alexander S. Borisenko +7 more

Abstract We report the results of studying a compact laser system designed for manipulating a quantum state of the optical qubit based on the 2S1/2 → 2D3/2 quadrupole transition in the 171Yb+ ion at a wavelength of 435.5 nm. An emission power of the laser system reaches 500 μW at λ = 435.5 nm and the relative frequency instability of at most 3 × 10−15 is achieved at averaging intervals from 0.5 to 50 s with a subtracted linear frequency drift. The compactness of the developed system makes it possible to employ it in transportable systems including optical clocks.

Quantum Electronics•Aug 26, 2020•14 citations

Reaching the quantum limit in a fountain clock using a microwave oscillator phase locked to an ultrastable laser

S. Weyers, B. Lipphardt, H. Schnatz

A cesium fountain clock is operated utilizing a microwave oscillator that derives its frequency stability from a stable laser by means of a fiber-laser femtosecond frequency comb. This oscillator is based on the technology developed for optical clocks and replaces the quartz-based microwave oscillator commonly used in fountain clocks. As a result, a significant decrease in the frequency instability of the fountain clock is obtained, reaching $7.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}{[\ensuremath{\tau}\text{ }(\text{s})]}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$. We could demonstrate that for a significant range of detected atom numbers the instability is limited by quantum projection noise only, and that for the current status of this fountain clock the microwave source poses no limit on the achievable frequency instability.

arXiv:0901.2788•Physical Review A•Mar 11, 2009•86 citations

Laser frequency standards at the P N Lebedev Physical Institute

Vladimir L Velichansky, M A Gubin

A brief review is made of the investigations conducted at the Laboratory of Frequency Standards at the P N Lebedev Physical Institute (FIAN) Division of Quantum Radiophysics along an important line of inquiry into the development of quantum frequency standards?the elaboration of a subminiature clock based on the coherent population trapping effect in alkali metal atoms with semiconductor laser pumping (frequency stability of 10?11?10?12 for an averaging time of ~ 104 s) and compact master oscillators/optical clocks with a frequency stability of 10?14?10?15 (for an averaging time of 1 s) based on He?Ne/CH4 and fiber femtosecond lasers.

Physics-Uspekhi•Nov 30, 2009•12 citations

Long-distance remote comparison of ultrastable optical frequencies with 10^-15 instability in fractions of a second

A. Pape, Osama Terra, J. Friebe +8 more

We demonstrate a fully optical, long-distance remote comparison of independent ultrastable optical frequencies reaching a short term stability that is superior to any reported remote comparison of optical frequencies. We use two ultrastable lasers, which are separated by a geographical distance of more than 50 km, and compare them via a 73 km long phase-stabilized fiber in a commercial telecommunication network. The remote characterization spans more than one optical octave and reaches a fractional frequency instability between the independent ultrastable laser systems of 3 x 10 (-15) in 0.1 s. The achieved performance at 100 ms represents an improvement by one order of magnitude to any previously reported remote comparison of optical frequencies and enables future remote dissemination of the stability of 100 mHz linewidth lasers within seconds.

arXiv:0908.4238•Optics Express•Sep 24, 2010•27 citations
The comparison of optical oscillators is used both to determine their spectral characteristics and to perform fundamental research. To describe each individual laser system, it is necessary to compare at least three independent laser oscillators. Three ultrastable lasers with wavelengths of 1140, 1550, and 871 nm located in different laboratories at the Lebedev Physical Institute have been compared. A femtosecond frequency comb has been used to transfer stability between different spectral ranges. A fractional frequency instability has been obtained with the three-cornered hat method and phase noise of each laser has been analyzed. Using this method, it has been shown that the characteristics of the laser system at a wavelength of 871 nm are appropriate to control the quantum state of an optical qubit on a quadrupole transition in an ytterbium ion with a n-atural width of 3.1 Hz.
Comparison of microwave frequency standards by satellite techniques is currently limited in instability at the 10-15level at one day [1]. However, the best optical frequency standards have already demonstrated an instability of ~ 5 × 10-17at 2000 s and an estimated uncertainty of 9 × 10-18[2]. The predicted improvement in optical frequency standards motivates the need for a new transfer method capable of performing below these predicted levels of instability. The transmission of cw optical frequencies through optical fibre networks is the most promising alternative to satellite methods when it comes to comparing remote optical frequency standards. Intra-lab comparison of optical frequency standards can already be carried out with the use of femtosecond optical frequency combs, which can easily bridge the frequency gap between the different standards under test. However, a particularly more challenging task is to compare different standards at remote European laboratories. The comparison of remote standards, particularly like-for-like systems (such as the Yb+clocks at NPL and PTB), will be important in determining the relative uncertainty and reproducibility of these clocks. For this remote comparison method to operate below the instability level of the optical standards, a highly stable phase-coherent local oscillator is needed so as not to degrade the stability of the atomic reference being compared.
We describe experimental investigations of an optical frequency standard based on a single laser-cooled /sup 171/Yb/sup +/ ion confined in a radiofrequency Paul trap. The electric quadrupole transition from the /sup 2/S/sub 1/2 /(F=0) ground state to the /sup 2/D/sub 3/2/(F=2) state at 435.5 nm is used as the reference transition. The transition was resolved with a Fourier-limited width of approximately 30 Hz. In order to investigate the instability and accuracy of a future frequency standard based on the reference transition, a first experiment was done comparing two laser frequencies stabilized individually to two separate ions in different traps. As a result we found a relative frequency instability /spl sigma//sub y/(640 s)=1.5/spl middot/10/sup -15/ for the difference of the two laser frequencies. We also derived a first estimate /spl Theta/(/sup 2/D/sub 3/2/)=(3.9/spl plusmn/1.9)ea/sub 0//sup 2/ for the electric quadrupole moment of the /sup 2/D/sub 3/2/ state.
Abstract We report the results of studying a compact laser system designed for manipulating a quantum state of the optical qubit based on the 2S1/2 → 2D3/2 quadrupole transition in the 171Yb+ ion at a wavelength of 435.5 nm. An emission power of the laser system reaches 500 μW at λ = 435.5 nm and the relative frequency instability of at most 3 × 10−15 is achieved at averaging intervals from 0.5 to 50 s with a subtracted linear frequency drift. The compactness of the developed system makes it possible to employ it in transportable systems including optical clocks.
A cesium fountain clock is operated utilizing a microwave oscillator that derives its frequency stability from a stable laser by means of a fiber-laser femtosecond frequency comb. This oscillator is based on the technology developed for optical clocks and replaces the quartz-based microwave oscillator commonly used in fountain clocks. As a result, a significant decrease in the frequency instability of the fountain clock is obtained, reaching $7.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}{[\ensuremath{\tau}\text{ }(\text{s})]}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$. We could demonstrate that for a significant range of detected atom numbers the instability is limited by quantum projection noise only, and that for the current status of this fountain clock the microwave source poses no limit on the achievable frequency instability.
A brief review is made of the investigations conducted at the Laboratory of Frequency Standards at the P N Lebedev Physical Institute (FIAN) Division of Quantum Radiophysics along an important line of inquiry into the development of quantum frequency standards?the elaboration of a subminiature clock based on the coherent population trapping effect in alkali metal atoms with semiconductor laser pumping (frequency stability of 10?11?10?12 for an averaging time of ~ 104 s) and compact master oscillators/optical clocks with a frequency stability of 10?14?10?15 (for an averaging time of 1 s) based on He?Ne/CH4 and fiber femtosecond lasers.
We demonstrate a fully optical, long-distance remote comparison of independent ultrastable optical frequencies reaching a short term stability that is superior to any reported remote comparison of optical frequencies. We use two ultrastable lasers, which are separated by a geographical distance of more than 50 km, and compare them via a 73 km long phase-stabilized fiber in a commercial telecommunication network. The remote characterization spans more than one optical octave and reaches a fractional frequency instability between the independent ultrastable laser systems of 3 x 10 (-15) in 0.1 s. The achieved performance at 100 ms represents an improvement by one order of magnitude to any previously reported remote comparison of optical frequencies and enables future remote dissemination of the stability of 100 mHz linewidth lasers within seconds.