JILA Wannier-Stark lattice Clock Part 1—Applications: Frequency Metrology and Optical Time Scale
ORAL
Abstract
Optical lattice clocks continue to push the limits of our understanding and control of atom-light and atom-atom interactions, now reaching fractional frequency uncertainties below 1E-18. This level of precision together with an ultrastable optical local oscillator provides superior timekeeping capabilities, driving progress toward the redefinition of the second.
In this talk, we present our Sr optical lattice clock experiments at JILA. From a frequency standard perspective, we contribute to the global effort toward redefining the second. We have compared our clock to other optical atomic clocks at NIST over a 3.6 km optical fiber network [1]. By comparing two ultrastable cryogenic silicon reference cavities at JILA as well as a NIST maser and the related atomic time scale against Sr, this network has enabled ongoing effort to contribute to the global atomic time scale and the implementation of all optical time scales [2]. We continue to advance the Sr clock performance. As we use more atoms to reduce quantum projection noise, many-body interactions introduce decoherence and frequency shifts [3].
[1] BACON collaboration, arXiv:2512.21428 (2025)
[2] D. Lee et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 033801 (2026), D. G. Matei et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 263202 (2017), W. R. Milner et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 173201 (2019)
[3] K. Kim et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 103601 (2025)
In this talk, we present our Sr optical lattice clock experiments at JILA. From a frequency standard perspective, we contribute to the global effort toward redefining the second. We have compared our clock to other optical atomic clocks at NIST over a 3.6 km optical fiber network [1]. By comparing two ultrastable cryogenic silicon reference cavities at JILA as well as a NIST maser and the related atomic time scale against Sr, this network has enabled ongoing effort to contribute to the global atomic time scale and the implementation of all optical time scales [2]. We continue to advance the Sr clock performance. As we use more atoms to reduce quantum projection noise, many-body interactions introduce decoherence and frequency shifts [3].
[1] BACON collaboration, arXiv:2512.21428 (2025)
[2] D. Lee et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 033801 (2026), D. G. Matei et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 263202 (2017), W. R. Milner et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 173201 (2019)
[3] K. Kim et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 103601 (2025)
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Publication: BACON collaboration, arXiv:2512.21428 (2025)
Presenters
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Kyungtae Kim
- JILA