Progress Towards a Compact Optical Clock at JPL

The unprecedented stability and accuracy provided by optical clocks allows improved navigation and planetary science in space applications as well as more precise tests of fundamental laws of physics. However, technological advances towards the miniaturization of the physical volume and reduced power consumption of these clocks must be made to suit space-based application. We will describe JPL's effort towards the development of a compact, low-power optical clock based on $^{\mathrm{171}}$Yb$^{\mathrm{+}}$.