US 11,868,095 B2
Alkali metal optical clock
Mark Saffman, Madison, WI (US); Shimon Kolkowitz, Madison, WI (US); and Arjav Sharma, Madison, WI (US)
Assigned to Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Madison, WI (US)
Filed by Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Madison, WI (US)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/654,888.
Prior Publication US 2023/0297033 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. G04F 5/14 (2006.01); H03L 7/26 (2006.01)
CPC G04F 5/145 (2013.01) [H03L 7/26 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical atomic clock comprising:
a source of alkali metal atoms;
a trapping laser providing at least one optical trap holding the atoms received from the source;
a clock laser exciting the trapped atoms in transition from a ground state to an optical excited energy state; and
a lock circuit monitoring light from decay of the trapped atoms from the optical excited energy state to the ground state to adjust the frequency of the clock laser for use as a clock output;
wherein the transition between the ground state and the excited energy state is an electric dipole forbidden transition of the alkali metal atoms.