Active Ion Optical Clock

TL;DR

This paper proposes an active ion optical clock using 171Yb+ ions in a Paul Trap with a Fabry-Perot resonator, achieving a quantum-limited linewidth narrower than 1 mHz, promising enhanced stability for optical frequency standards.

Contribution

It introduces a novel active ion optical clock scheme with detailed pumping, lasing states, and linewidth analysis, advancing the development of highly stable optical frequency standards.

Findings

Quantum-limited linewidth narrower than 1 mHz

Utilization of 171Yb+ ions in a Paul Trap for lasing

Potential for improved stability in optical clocks

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a scheme of active ion optical clock with detailed pumping method, lasing states, output power, linewidth and light shift. Using 171Yb+ ions in a Paul Trap we propose to utilize a Fabry-Perot resonator to realize lasing of active optical frequency standards. The quantum-limited linewidth of active 171Yb+ ion optical clock is narrower than 1 mHz. Based on the mechanism and advantages of active optical clock at ion optical clock transition frequency, this new laser light source as a stable local oscillator, will be beneficial to the single-ion optical clock, which currently is the most accurate clock.