Atomic fountains and optical clocks at SYRTE: status and perspectives

TL;DR

This paper reviews a decade of advancements at SYRTE in atomic fountain and optical clocks, highlighting progress in timekeeping, tests of physical laws, and implications for redefining the SI second.

Contribution

It presents new developments in atomic and optical clocks at SYRTE, including their application to fundamental physics and potential redefinition of the SI second.

Findings

Progress in atomic fountain technology over 10 years

Development of optical lattice clocks with strontium and mercury

High-precision tests of fundamental physical laws

Abstract

In this article, we report on the work done with the LNE-SYRTE atomic clock ensemble during the last 10 years. We cover progress made in atomic fountains and in their application to timekeeping. We also cover the development of optical lattice clocks based on strontium and on mercury. We report on tests of fundamental physical laws made with these highly accurate atomic clocks. We also report on work relevant to a future possible redefinition of the SI second.