Rydberg constant and fundamental atomic physics

Accuracy comparison of absolute optical frequency measurement between harmonic-generation synthesis and a frequency-division femtosecond comb

Using an iodine-stabilized He-Ne laser as a transfer oscillator, we compare absolute measurements of the optical frequency from a traditional frequency synthesis chain based on harmonic generation and from the frequency division technique of an ultrawide bandwidth femtosecond frequency comb. The agreement between these two measurements, both linked to the Cs standard, is 220+/-770 Hz, yielding a measurement accuracy of 1.6x10(-12). We report 473 612 353 604.8+/-1.2 kHz as a preliminary updated value of the absolute frequency of the " f" component for the He-Ne laser international standard at 633 nm.

Optical frequency division using an optical parametric oscillator

A novel method of frequency division based on optical parametric oscillation is proposed. This scheme converts with high efficiency an input signal into two intense, coherent subharmonic outputs whose frequencies are tunable and whose linewidths are essentially limited by the input pump linewidth. By locking their difference frequency to a microwave, a millimeter-wave, or an infrared reference source, the output frequencies are precisely determined. The proposed frequency dividers can be operated in series or in parallel to measure, compare, and synthesize frequencies from optical to microwave. A line-narrowing effect for the generation of ultrastable radiation is discussed.