Lattice-based Optical Atomic Clocks

Chad Hoyt
Physics Department
Bethel University

Lattice-based optical atomic clocks promise exceptionally high stability and good accuracy. Tight, long-lasting atom confinement in an optical lattice – formed by a laser-light standing wave – enables Doppler-free precision spectroscopy with narrow linewidths. Further, large numbers of atoms can yield high signal-to-noise ratios. I will describe high resolution spectroscopy of the strongly forbidden 174 Yb optical clock transition ( 1 S 0 - 3 P 0 ) performed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder , CO . Using a new method of magnetic field-induced spectroscopy, we observed spectroscopic linewidths of 4 Hz with high contrast and good signal-to-noise ratios. I will also discuss possible extensions of this work at Bethel University .