NIST researchers have developed the first miniaturized optical frequency synthesizers using three silicon chips, enabling precise control of light frequencies traceable to international standards. The devices combine frequency combs, tunable lasers, and electronics to create programmable optical clocks, potentially revolutionizing fields like timekeeping, communications, and gas monitoring.
The prototype synthesizer, described in the journal Nature, uses two frequency combs – one 40 micrometers in diameter and another 100 times wider – to generate synchronized links between microwave and optical frequencies. The technology could lead to portable, mass-produced optical frequency instruments, building on NIST’s Nobel-honored frequency comb research.
Keywords: frequency combs, optical frequency synthesizer, laser chip, silicon chip, optical clock
