CPC G04F 5/145 (2013.01) [H03L 7/26 (2013.01)] | 21 Claims |
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.
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