Researchers at NIST are developing trapped ion optical clocks using quantum logic spectroscopy, achieving unprecedented frequency measurement accuracy. Their work focuses on the 1S0-3P0 transition in singly-ionized aluminum, detected using a second ion in the same trap. Current efforts aim to reduce systematic effects and increase clock stability through quantum entanglement and classical correlations.
Key technical points:
– Probing two separate clocks in a correlated manner enables clock interrogation beyond the coherence limits of the probe laser
– Current generation of clocks achieves fractional uncertainty below 1×10-18
– Research group includes permanent staff, postdocs, and graduate students working on various aspects of the project
Source: https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/trapped-ion-optical-clocks
Keywords: optical frequency metrology, quantum-limited techniques, optical clock measurements, quantum entanglement, quantum logic spectroscopy
