Free-space interferometer design for optical frequency dissemination and out-of-loop characterization below the 10−21-level

authored by

Thomas Jürss, Gesine Grosche, Sebastian Koke

Abstract

For improving the performance of optical frequency dissemination and the resolution of its out-of-loop (OOL) characterization, we investigate a compact free-space interferometer design in which a monolithic assembly forms the reference arm. Two interferometer designs are realized, and their environmental sensitivity is analyzed based on the properties of the materials involved. We elucidate that in these designs the temperature sensitivities of the out-of-loop signal paths are greater than for the reference arm. As the estimated temperature-variation-induced frequency transfer errors are observed to be the relevant limitation, the out-of-loop characterization signal can be regarded as a trustworthy upper limit of the frequency transfer error to a remote place. We demonstrate a fractional frequency transfer uncertainty and OOL characterization resolution of ≤2.7 × 10

⁻²¹ over many measurement runs. With a value of (0.23 ± 1.07) × 10

⁻²² the weighted mean offset is significantly below the best reported results so far.

External Organisation(s)

National Metrology Institute of Germany (PTB)

Type

Article

Journal

Photonics research

Volume

11

Pages

1113-1124

No. of pages

12

ISSN

2327-9125

Publication date

06.2023

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1364/prj.485899 (Access: Closed)