Skip to main content

NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.

Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.

U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Absolute and relative stability of an optical frequency reference based on spectral hole burning in Eu3+:Y2SiO5

Published

Author(s)

David R. Leibrandt, M Thorpe, Chin-Wen Chou, Tara M. Fortier, Scott A. Diddams, Till P. Rosenband

Abstract

We present four frequency comparison measurements designed to investigate the performance of an optical frequency reference based on spectral hole burning in Eu$3+:Y2SiO5. The first frequency comparison, between a single unperturbed spectral hole and a hydrogen maser, demonstrates a fractional frequency drift rate of 5 × 10-18/s. Optical frequency comparisons between a pattern of spectral holes, a Fabry-P\'erot cavity, and an Al+ optical clock show a short term stability of 1 × 10-15√τ that averages down to 2.5+1.1-0.5 × 10-16 at τ = 540~s. Finally, spectral hole patterns in two different Eu3+:Y2SiO5 crystals located in the same cryostat are compared yielding a short term stability of 7 × 10-16 √τ that averages down to 3.4+3.2-0.8 × 10-17 at τ = 410~s.
Citation
Physical Review Letters
Volume
111

Keywords

Hole burning spectroscopy, Metrological applications, optical frequency synthesizers for precision spectroscopy

Citation

Leibrandt, D. , Thorpe, M. , Chou, C. , Fortier, T. , Diddams, S. and Rosenband, T. (2013), Absolute and relative stability of an optical frequency reference based on spectral hole burning in Eu<sup>3+</sup>:Y<sub>2</sub>SiO<sub>5</sub>, Physical Review Letters, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=914300 (Accessed October 9, 2025)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact [email protected].

Created December 6, 2013, Updated February 19, 2017
Was this page helpful?