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Quantum Computing, Communication, and Simulation

Prospects for quantum metrology with trapped-ion optical clocks in space

David R. Leibrandt

Published Mar 5, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Terrestrial optical atomic clocks based on laser cooled atoms confined in the Lamb-Dicke regime in optical lattice traps or ion traps are the most precise and accurate measurement devices of any kind, and can be used to look for very small deviations from the predictions of the Standard Model that would hint at new physics. In this talk, I will discuss the design trade space for robust, autonomous, low-SWaP optical clocks for space, focusing primarily on trapped-ion clocks due to their lower complexity and laser power requirements. I will discuss the potential of integrated photonics to drastically reduce SWaP and increase robustness, and highlight performance targets for future development. Furthermore, I will discuss quantum metrology algorithms that can be used to alleviate the laser system performance requirements and suppress sensitivity to environmental noise. Finally, I will conclude by discussing the new physics reach of various optical atomic clock space flight mission scenarios.

DOI
10.1117/12.3077713

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Terrestrial optical atomic clocks based on laser cooled atoms confined in the Lamb-Dicke regime in optical lattice traps or ion traps are the most precise and accurate measurement devices of any kind, and can be used to look for very small deviations from the predictions of the Standard Model that would hint at new physics. In this talk, I will discuss the design trade space for robust, autonomous, low-SWaP optical clocks for space, focusing primarily on trapped-ion clocks due to their lower complexity and laser power requirements. I will discuss the potential of integrated photonics to drastically reduce SWaP and increase robustness, and highlight performance targets for future development. Furthermore, I will discuss quantum metrology algorithms that can be used to alleviate the laser system performance requirements and suppress sensitivity to environmental noise. Finally, I will conclude by discussing the new physics reach of various optical atomic clock space flight mission scenarios.
Optical atomic clocks based on laser-cooled trapped ions and atoms have advanced rapidly over the past decade. With fractional frequency uncertainties now surpassing 10 −18 , they are some of the most precise measurement tools ever built. Yet researchers are still pursuing new avenues of research to explore the fundamental limits to their stability, accuracy, and reproducibility. In this mini-review, we provide a survey of the current state of the art by describing the fundamental principles and techniques that underpin this progress, the architectures used to realize optical clocks, and the supporting laser technologies that are essential to their operation. We also examine the progress that has been made toward a redefinition of the second in the International System of Units and the inclusion of optical clocks into the global time and frequency metrology infrastructure. Finally, we discuss emerging applications of optical clocks and look at the prospects for making their precision more readily accessible to end users.
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Optical clocks enable frequency measurements with a systematicfractionaluncertainty of 10^-18 and lower. These clocks use opticaltransitions ofcold trapped ions in radio-frequency traps or cold ensembles oftrappedneutral atoms as frequency references with long-term stability.There isan increasing demand for commercially available precise clocksfor bigdata, stock exchange, and positioning systems. Further,ultra-precise clockscan be used to test General Relativity, search for new physics,and geodeticmeasurements. Todate, precise clocks are realized mainly inlaboratoryexperiments and require highly trained operators. We aredeveloping chip-basedion traps for portable optical clocks that can be used for field measurements,as well as multi-ion clocks that enable faster precisionmeasurements.In this talk, we will give an update on ion trap technologiesthat willhelp to make the clocks smaller. This includes more compactelectricalconnections and space-saving
Abstract The primary technology for high accuracy position, navigation and timing (PNT) capability worldwide is currently provided by global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). The vulnerability of GNSS to intentional interference, clock component failure or extreme space weather is increasingly pointing to the need for alternative independent navigation and timing solutions to maintain critical national infrastructures, defence, security, commerce and logistics. The availability of low size, weight and power (SWaP) portable atomic clock technology with resilience and extended holdover times for use both in space and terrestrially is now increasingly urgent. In this paper, we report on progress in the development of compact optical clocks that offer the capability to out-perform existing commercial microwave atomic clock systems. We discuss designs for a compact transportable cold trapped strontium ion optical clock with both a low SWaP design and high accuracy that can address extended holdover for future navigation and timing requirements. We describe how key sub-systems of an optical atomic clock, namely the single ion trap physics package and multi-wavelength dual-axis cubic cavity clock control unit have been redesigned to reduce SWaP. The optical cavity is needed to frequency stabilise the lasers for laser cooling and state preparation as well as the clock laser for interrogating the ion’s clock transition. We describe the results of finite element analysis (FEA) to model the electrical and thermal behaviour of a compact ion trap design. We also consider the design space for small cubic optical cavities, investigating the possible limits for achieving a minimal SWaP for the system.
Transitions between discrete energy levels in well-isolated atomic systems are highly reproducible and therefore make ideal references for highly accurate frequency standards or clocks. In particular, a single laser-cooled ion confined in a radiofrequency ion trap closely approximates the spectroscopic ideal of a particle at rest in a perturbation-free environment. Narrow optical transitions in such systems are therefore very promising for the realization of optical clocks with accuracy around 2 orders of magnitude higher than current microwave primary standards. In this paper the fundamental aspects, current performance and applications of trapped ion optical clocks are reviewed and the potential for future improvements is considered.
Frequency and its inverse, time, are the most accurately measured quantities. Historically, improvements in the accuracy of clocks have enabled advances in navigation, communication, and science. Since 1967, the definition of the International System (SI) second has been based on the frequency of a microwave transition in cesium, and present day cesium atomic clocks have a fractional uncertainty near 10-16. Recently, a new type of atomic clock based on optical transitions has been developed, with a current fractional uncertainty near 10-18 (approximately one second divided by the age of the universe), and they are rapidly improving. This talk presents a brief summary of the development of optical atomic clocks, with a focus on the Al+ quantum-logic clock developed at NIST. We discuss the current state-of-the-art in optical clock performance, and describe new applications in sensing and fundamental physics. Future directions in optical atomic clock research are also considered.