Northwestern Events Calendar

Apr
6
2017

Ed Marti - Next-generation optical lattice clocks

When: Thursday, April 6, 2017
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM CT

Where: Technological Institute, F160, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208 map it

Audience: Faculty/Staff - Student - Post Docs/Docs - Graduate Students

Contact: Gretchen Burnett   (847) 467-3798

Group: Center for Fundamental Physics Colloquia

Category: Lectures & Meetings

Description:

Thursday, April 6th, 2 PM F160

Abstract:

The accuracy of atomic clocks has improved a thousandfold over the last 15 years, driven by improvements in ultrastable lasers, quantum control, and our understanding of atomic interactions. The latest generation of optical lattice clocks are accurate enough to measure general relativity's gravitational redshift at the centimeter scale and to test physics beyond the Standard Model. In this talk, I will discuss the principles behind state-of-the-art optical lattice clocks and describe a clock that reaches a record accuracy of 1 mHz on an optical transition at 429 THz, a fractional frequency accuracy of 2 parts in 10^18. I will also discuss a next-generation clock that probes degenerate fermions in a three-dimensional optical lattice. By controlling atomic interactions and light shifts, this apparatus achieved a record atom-light coherence time of six seconds, reaching sub-100 mHz spectroscopic features. Finally, I will discuss prospects for improved accuracy in a cryogenic strontium clock and for tests of fundamental physics with clocks.

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