JILA physicists have developed a new type of laser called a “superradiant laser” that could significantly improve the performance of atomic clocks and enable more accurate “rulers” for measuring astronomical distances. The laser, which uses strontium atoms, is 100 times more stable than conventional lasers and could potentially be used as an atomic clock itself.
The superradiant laser works by synchronizing the emissions of light from the same type of atoms used in advanced atomic clocks. This synchronization allows the laser to maintain a precise frequency, which is crucial for applications like atomic clocks that rely on lasers to make atoms “tick” from one energy state to another. The laser’s output is also less sensitive to mechanical vibrations, making it a more stable and precise tool.
The research was conducted at JILA, a partnership between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado Boulder, and was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Army Research Office, National Science Foundation, and NIST.
Keywords: superradiant, laser, atomic, clock, synchronization
