Sr optical lattice clock
The Sr optical clock is the most widespread optical frequency standard around the world, the most stable and the most accurate. Its clock frequency has shown a reproducibility of uncertainty at the level of 10−17. Frequency comparisons of Sr clocks have been already used to constrain gravitational theories and are foreseen to be used in relativistic geodesy. This is because of the relative ease to produce the necessary laser sources for laser-cooling its atoms down to microkelvin temperatures, and to probe the 1S0 – 3P0 clock transition at 698 nm. Following the pioneering experiments at Jila by Jan Hall (now Jun Ye) and at University of Tokyo by H. Katori, INRiM is now assembling its own Sr optical lattice clock. After almost two decades of development, the Sr optical standard at INRiM will present some original solutions to have both an ultra-stable and accurate apparatus. In particular, it will employ a 2D-MOT loaded atomic beam which ensures suppression of BBR shift from the atomic oven and an optical shutter of the Sr beam to suppress background collision shifts.
Furthermore, INRiM will design and develop within the European projects Q-Clocks (QuantERA) and USOQS (EMPIR 2017) a cavity-enhanced probing scheme to surpass the quantum projection noise limit and explore quantum-enhancement in optical clocks. We will also pursue new methods for cavity frequency stabilization and ultra-narrow diode laser for second harmonic generation of the clock light.
View of our 2D-MOT
Sr Clock funded projects
Metrology Partnership 23FUN02
June 2024 - present
PRIN 2022
October 2023 - present
EMPIR 17FUN03
June 2018 - May 2022
People
Marco G. Tarallo, leader maximo
Matteo Barbiero, fido scudiero
Juan Pablo Salvatierra, apprendista stregone
Publications
Journal articles
Composite Raman-Nath heterodyne interferometry with relevance for precise spectroscopy
M Barbiero, J P Salvatierra, D Calonico, F Levi, M G. Tarallo, Optics & Laser Technology 181, 111613 (2025)Analysis of spin-squeezing generation in cavity-coupled atomic ensembles with continuous measurements
A Caprotti, M Barbiero, M G Tarallo, M G Genoni and G Bertaina, Quantum Sci. Technol. 9 035032 (2024)Broadband serrodyne phase modulation for optical frequency standards and spectral purity transfer
M. Barbiero, J. P. Salvatierra, M. Risaro, C. Clivati, D. Calonico, F. Levi, and M. G. Tarallo, Opt. Lett. 48(7), 1958-1961 (2023)Optically loaded Strontium lattice clock with a single multi-wavelength reference cavity
M Barbiero, D Calonico, F Levi, MG Tarallo, IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, vol. 71, pp. 1-9, 2022, Art no. 1501509 (2022)Sideband-Enhanced Cold Atomic Source for Optical Clocks
M Barbiero, MG Tarallo, D Calonico, F Levi, G Lamporesi, G Ferrari, Physical Review Applied 13 (1), 014013 (2020)
Conference proceedings
Status and Perspectives of INRIM Sr Cavity-Enhanced Optical Clock
M. Barbiero, G. Bertaina, D. Calonico, F. Levi, J.P. Salvatierra, and M.G. Tarallo, in 2023 Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS), 2023., pp 1-3 , doi:10.1109/EFTF/IFCS57587.2023.10272181INRIM Sr Optical Clock: An Optically Loaded Apparatus for High-Stability Metrology
M Barbiero, MG Tarallo, F Rullo, M Risaro, C Clivati, D Calonico, F Levi, 2021 Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS), 2021, pp. 1-3, doi: 10.1109/EFTF/IFCS52194.2021.9604341Toward a quantum-enhanced strontium optical lattice clock at INRIM
MG Tarallo, EPJ Web of Conferences 230, 00011, arXiv preprint arXiv:2006.10405, 2020A strontium optical lattice clock apparatus for precise frequency metrology and beyond
MG Tarallo, D Calonico, F Levi, M Barbiero, G Lamporesi, G Ferrari, 2017 Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS), 2017, pp. 748-750, doi: 10.1109/FCS.2017.8089020.
Theses
Studio di campi magnetici per il raffreddamento ed intrappolamento laser di atomi.
M. C. Ragusa, University of Turin
B.Sc. Dissertation in Physics, 2023Optical frequency stabilization to a doubly forbidden atomic transition for a strontiumoptical lattice clock
J. P. Salvatierra, University of Turin
M.Sc. Dissertation in Physics of Advanced Technologies, 2022Theoretical modeling and simulation of the generation of spin-squeezed states for quantum enhanced atomic clocks
A. Caprotti, University of Milan
M.Sc. Dissertation in Physics, 2022Laser Cooling and Trapping of Strontium for an Optical Lattice Clock
F. Rullo, University of Turin
M.Sc. Dissertation in Physics of Advanced Technologies, 2021Tecniche di Imaging per la Diagnostica di Atomi di Stronzio Ultrafreddi
D. Racca, University of Turin
B.Sc. Dissertation in Physics, 2019Novel techniques for a Strontium Optical Lattice Clock
M. Barbiero, Politecnico Turin
Ph.D Thesis in Metrology, 2019
Theses and positions available!
Development of a homodyne detection system for the "quantum non-demolition" detection of collective atomic states
Laser frequency stabilization at the thermal noise limit and beyond
Development and characterization of a high spectral-purity infrared laser for the Sr optical clock
Narrow-line laser Doppler cooling of strontium atoms for an optical lattice clock
Contact us: m.tarallo[at]inrim.it