COMPACT VISIBLE FREQUENCY COMBS: THE MISSING LINK IN A VISION OF PERVASIVE QUANTUM TIMEKEEPING

紧凑型可见光频率梳：普及量子计时愿景中缺失的一环

基本信息

批准号：
EP/P005446/1
负责人：
Derryck Reid
金额：
$ 69.23万
依托单位：
Heriot-Watt University
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2016
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2016 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FP005446%2F1
关键词：
COMPACT VISIBLE FREQUENCY COMBS MISSING

项目摘要

Informed by the requirements of future precision atomic clocks, this project targets the development of an "optical frequency comb" -- a laser providing a thousands of regularly spaced optical frequencies which form a ruler in frequency that is a critical component in quantum timekeeping devices.Quantum technology research in the UK and internationally is developing small atomic clocks to which the frequency of a special laser (not a laser comb) can be locked with extremely high stability. Yet these clocks "tick too fast": the clock laser oscillates at about 500 trillion "ticks per second", far too quickly to allow it to be interfaced to real-world systems like computer networks and electronic navigation devices. The laser comb can be used like a gearwheel to reduce this rate to one more appropriate for everyday applications of about 10 billion ticks per second. In this sense the comb works exactly like the clockwork mechanism in a pendulum clock, reducing the faster ticks of the pendulum to less frequent increments in the positions of the minute and hour hands.To date, practical laser combs with the right technical characteristics have been difficult to produce, even with lab-scale dimensions. This project will address the need for compact combs as sub-systems within a practical optical clock--and the current absence of such technology--by developing a disruptive laser-comb architecture. This will be compatible with visible clock transitions in new ion-based time standards, and will have a scale suitable for integrating into quantum timekeeping devices needed by sectors from security, energy, geodesy, finance and defence.Our approach will leverage advances in ultrafast lasers and integrated nonlinear photonic devices, complementary technologies in which the investigators at Heriot-Watt and Glasgow Universities are world leaders. Areas of emphasis are the development of robustly packaged infrared pulsed lasers operating at around 10 GHz (10 billion "ticks per second"), and the efficient extension of these to the visible region by using chip-scale "super-continuum" devices prototyped in the material gallium arsenide and finally to be made from the material silicon nitride. The output of these lasers will be made into a frequency comb by using a combination of optical and electronic stabilization techniques.The project will be developed in close association with several academic and industrial partners who will contribute resources and expertise in lasers (Laser Quantum Ltd.), optoelectronic manufacturing (Optocap Ltd.), optical frequency metrology (NPL), optical frequency standards (EPSRC UK Quantum Technology Hub in Sensors and Metrology), optical systems engineering (Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics) and expertise in end-user applications of combs (Dstl).Our partners have committed up to £527.5K cash and £182K in-kind support, and span the supply chain from devices and systems, to verification and end-users. This breadth and depth of commitment will ensure that the project gains real-world traction and will have an enduring impact.The modular comb targeted by the project resonates strongly with EPSRC's Photonics for Future Systems priority and addresses key portfolio areas of Optical Devices & Subsystems, Optoelectronic Devices & Circuits, Quantum Devices, Components & Systems and RF & Microwave Devices. By the end of the project we expect to have demonstrated and evaluated this novel laser-comb technology, as well as created considerable new knowledge and IP in the areas of ultrafast lasers and integrated nonlinear photonics. This will leave us in a strong position to translate the technology into systems of commercial and scientific benefit to our industrial and academic partners and wider society.

根据未来精密原子钟的要求，该项目的目标是开发“光学频率梳”——一种提供数千个规则间隔的光学频率的激光器，这些频率形成频率标尺，是量子计时设备的关键组件。英国和国际上的量子技术研究正在开发小型原子钟，可以以极高的稳定性锁定特殊激光器（而不是激光梳）的频率，但这些时钟“滴答声太快”：时钟激光器的振荡频率约为100°C。 500 万亿“每秒刻数”，速度太快，无法与计算机网络和电子导航设备等现实世界系统连接。激光梳可以像齿轮一样使用，将这一速率降低到更适合日常应用的速率。从这个意义上说，梳子的工作原理与摆钟中的发条机构完全相同，将钟摆的较快滴答声减少到分针和时针位置的较不频繁的增量。即使具有实验室规模的尺寸，具有正确技术特性的实用激光梳也很难生产，该项目将解决对紧凑梳作为实用光学时钟中的子系统的需求，而目前缺乏此类技术。通过开发颠覆性的激光梳结构，这将与新的基于离子的时间标准中的可见时钟转换兼容，并将具有适合集成到安全、能源、大地测量、金融和国防等领域所需的量子时间设备的规模。 .我们的方法将利用先进技术超快激光器和集成非线性光子器件是互补技术，赫瑞瓦特大学和格拉斯哥大学的研究人员在这方面处于世界领先地位，重点领域是开发工作频率约为 10 GHz（每秒 100 亿个“节拍”）的坚固封装红外脉冲激光器。），并通过使用以砷化镓材料为原型并最终由硅材料制成的芯片级“超连续谱”器件，将这些有效扩展到可见光区域这些激光器的输出将通过结合光学和电子稳定技术制成频率梳。该项目将与几个学术和工业合作伙伴密切合作开发，他们将贡献激光器方面的资源和专业知识（激光量子）。有限公司）、光电制造（Optocap Ltd.）、光频计量（NPL）、光频标准（EPSRC 英国传感器和计量量子技术中心）、光学系统工程（弗劳恩霍夫中心） Applied Photonics）和梳子最终用户应用方面的专业知识（Dstl）。我们的合作伙伴已承诺高达 527,500 英镑的现金和 182,000 英镑的实物支持，涵盖从设备和系统到验证和最终用户的供应链这种广度和深度的承诺将确保该项目获得现实世界的关注并产生持久的影响。该项目的目标模块化梳子与 EPSRC 的未来系统光子学优先事项产生强烈共鸣，并解决了关键的产品组合。光学器件和子系统、光电器件和电路、量子器件、组件和系统以及射频和微波器件领域，我们预计将演示和评估这种新颖的激光梳技术，并创造出相当多的新产品。超快激光器和集成非线性光子学领域的知识和知识产权将使我们处于有利地位，能够将技术转化为为我们的工业和学术合作伙伴以及更广泛的社会带来商业和科学利益的系统。