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Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2002 22:20:39 -0500
From: jim.mellard@utoronto.ca
To: aephraim@physics.utoronto.ca
Subject: Workshop
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Jim Mellard:  Phy 485   2002  Workshop  abstract

Optical Frequency Metrology

Optical resonances of cold atoms and ions have the potential to exhibit 
excellent frequency stability and extremely narrow linewidths.   Locking a laser 
onto such an optical resonance would provide an optical frequency standard that 
would surpass that of the resolution of the caesium atomic clock by many orders 
of magnitude.   The problem however has been devising a practical  method to 
measure these optical frequencies.   Current research efforts are now utilizing 
fiber-brodened, femtosecond laser frequency combs.  Using a known  frequency 
standard,  these "frequency rulers"  can reliably  measure frequencies in the 
order of 1000 Terahertz.