Absolute frequency measurement of the 40Ca+ 4s(2)S_(1/2)-3d(2)D_(5/2) clock transition.

We report on the first absolute transition frequency measurement at the 10;{-15} level with a single, laser-cooled 40Ca+ ion in a linear Paul trap. For this measurement, a frequency comb is referenced to the transportable Cs atomic fountain clock of LNE-SYRTE and is used to measure the 40Ca+ 4s ;{2}S_{1/2}-3d ;{2}D_{5/2} electric-quadrupole transition frequency. After the correction of systematic shifts, the clock transition frequency nu_{Ca;{+}}=411 042 129 776 393.2(1.0) Hz is obtained, which corresponds to a fractional uncertainty within a factor of 3 of the Cs standard. In addition, we determine the Landé g factor of the 3d;{2}D_{5/2} level to be g_{5/2}=1.200 334 0(3).

Performances of OsO(4) stabilized CO(2) lasers as optical frequency standards near 29 THz.

In this paper, we report on the metrological capabilities of CO (2)/OsO(4) optical frequency standards operating around 29 THz. Those frequency standards are currently involved in various fields, such as frequency metrology, high resolution spectroscopy, and Rydberg constant measurements. The most impressive features of the standards lies in the 10(-15) level frequency stability allied to a long-term reproducibility (1 yr) of 1.3x10 (-13).

Construction and evaluation of the first Brazilian atomic clock.

For the past two years we have been implementing a program for the establishment of scientific time and frequency metrology in Brazil. The main objective of this program is to construct an atomic fountain and use it as a primary standard. As a first step toward this goal, we have constructed a (133)Cs beam optically pumped conventional clock. In this paper we describe the system and the results of its evaluation. The possible limitations of our short-term stability are discussed.

Optical heterodyning with a frequency difference of 1 THz in the 850-nm range.

We report our recent progress on detection of large frequency difference (up to 1.028 THz, Deltalambda = 2.5 nm) between two laser diodes at 852 nm, using a Schottky diode as harmonic mixer/detector. Using the 11th harmonic of a klystron operating at 93.5 GHz or the 991-GHz line of an optically pumped HCOOH far-infrared laser, we were able to observe a signal-to-noise ratio of 2 dB in a 1-MHz-resolution bandwidth.