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.

根据未来精度原子钟的要求，该项目针对“光学频率梳子”的开发 - 一种激光器提供了数千个定期间隔的光学频率，这些光频率构成了频率的统治者，这是量子计时设备中的关键组成部分。英国和国际上的Quantum Technology in Internotical of Propect the the the the the lase the experion（Quantim the the Pression Come）的频率（不可能）是一定的频率（稳定。然而，这些时钟“滴答得太快”：时钟激光器以约500万亿的“每秒滴答”的速度振荡，太快了，以至于无法干预计算机网络和电子导航设备等真实世界系统。激光梳子可以像齿轮一样使用，以将此速率降低到每天约100亿滴水的申请。从这个意义上讲，梳子的工作原理与摆在摆时时钟中的发条机制的工作原理，将摆的更快的tick滴在分钟和小时的位置上的频率较小。到期，即使使用实验室尺寸，也很难生产具有正确技术特征的实用激光梳子。该项目将通过开发颠覆性的激光 - 炸弹体系结构来解决实用光学时钟内的紧凑梳子作为子系统的需求。 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 defense.Our approach will leverage advances in ultrafast lasers and integrated nonlinear photonic devices, complete technologies in which the investigators at Heriot-Watt and Glasgow Universities are world leaders.重点的领域是在脉冲激光器的影响下以约10 ghz（100亿“ ticks ticks”）的影响进行的，以及通过使用芯片规模的“ Super-Continuum”设备在Arsenide和Arsenide材料中原型制成的材料硅Nitriide制成的芯片“ Super-Continuum”设备。 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传感器和计量学），光学系统工程（Fraunhofer Applied Photonics）和梳子最终用户应用中的专业知识（DSTL）。您的合作伙伴已承诺最高可达527.5k的现金和182,000英镑的现金，并具有182,000英镑的内在支持，并跨越了设备和系统的供应链，到供应链，到Verific and Systems和Systems和End-End-Aser和End-Asers。 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.到该项目结束时，我们希望已经证明并评估了这项新型的激光炸弹技术，并在超快激光器和集成的非线性光子学领域中创造了大量的新知识和IP。这将使我们处于强大的位置，将技术转化为工业和学术伙伴以及更广泛的社会的商业和科学利益系统。