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)