Chip-scale Optical Atomic Clock

Optical atomic clocks are at the heart of modern technology. From time-keeping to navigation to global positioning systems. This project will develop the world’s first all optical atomic clock that is chip scale. It will create this based on recent advances in Kerr soliton micro-comb technology, ps mode locked lasers that are heterogeneously integrated on a chip, and using novel on chip frequency doublers with vastly improved efficiency. Exploiting the Rb85 two photon transition enables to obtain a clock signal that is vastly improved compared to today’s radio frequency transition based clocks. This clock can revolutionize timekeeping in both mobile, airborne or space application and used in future GPS networks such as Galileo. Moreover the underlying clockwork - a chipscale comb - can have applications ranging from distance measurements, to time and frequency metrology. This consortium brings together the leading groups in Europe in the domain of Frequency combs, micro-comb technology and photonic chipscale laser integration.