Optical Multiplexing of Metrological Time and Frequency Signals in a Single 100-GHz-Grid Optical Channel.

In this article, the concept of co-locating all metrological time and frequency signals in a single optical channel of a standard, 100-GHz-spaced optical grid is presented and evaluated. The solution is intended for situations where only a narrow optical bandwidth is available in a fiber heavily loaded with standard data traffic. We localized the optical reference signals in the middle of the channel, with signals related to RF reference and time tags shifted ±12.5 GHz apart. In the experimental evaluation with a 260-km-long fiber, we demonstrate that the stability of frequency signals and the calibration of time tags remained at the very same level of stability and accuracy as for systems utilizing separate channels: the fractional long-term instability for the optical frequency reference was below 5 ×10-20 , that for the RF reference at the level of 10-17, and the mismatch of the time tag calibration was not more than 10 ps. We also identify possible issues, mainly related to a risk of unwanted Brillouin amplification and scattering.

A Hybrid Solution for Simultaneous Transfer of Ultrastable Optical Frequency, RF Frequency, and UTC Time-Tags Over Optical Fiber.

We describe a fiber-optic solution for simultaneous distribution of all signals generated at today's most advanced time and frequency laboratories, i.e., an ultrastable optical reference frequency derived from an optical atomic clock, a radio frequency precisely linked to a realization of the SI-Second, and a realization of an atomic timescale, being the local representation of the virtual, global UTC timescale. In our solution both the phase of the optical carrier and the delay of electrical signals (10-MHz frequency reference and one-pulse-per-second time tags) are stabilized against environmental perturbations influencing the fiber link instability and accuracy. We experimentally demonstrate optical transfer stabilities of and for 100 s averaging period, for optical carrier and 10-MHz signals, respectively.

Optical injection locking-based amplification in phase-coherent transfer of optical frequencies.

We demonstrate the use of an optical injection phase locked loop (OIPLL) as a regenerative amplifier for optical frequency transfer applications. The optical injection locking provides high gain within a narrow bandwidth (<100 MHz) and is capable of preserving the fractional frequency stability of the incoming carrier to better than 10(-18) at 1000 s. The OIPLL was tested in the field as a mid-span amplifier for the transfer of an ultrastable optical carrier, stabilized to an optical frequency standard, over a 292 km long installed dark fiber link. The transferred frequency at the remote end reached a fractional frequency instability of less than 1×10(-19) at averaging time of 3200 s.

Precision measurement of the hydrogen 1S-2S frequency via a 920-km fiber link.

We have measured the frequency of the extremely narrow 1S-2S two-photon transition in atomic hydrogen using a remote cesium fountain clock with the help of a 920 km stabilized optical fiber. With an improved detection method we obtain f(1S-2S)=2466 061 413 187 018 (11) Hz with a relative uncertainty of 4.5×10(-15), confirming our previous measurement obtained with a local cesium clock [C. G. Parthey et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 203001 (2011)]. Combining these results with older measurements, we constrain the linear combinations of Lorentz boost symmetry violation parameters c((TX))=(3.1±1.9)×10(-11) and 0.92c((TY))+0.40c((TZ))=(2.6±5.3)×10(-11) in the standard model extension framework [D. Colladay, V. A. Kostelecký, Phys. Rev. D. 58, 116002 (1998)].

Phase-coherent frequency comparison of optical clocks using a telecommunication fiber link.

We have explored the performance of 2 "dark fibers" of a commercial telecommunication fiber link for a remote comparison of optical clocks. These fibers establish a network in Germany that will eventually link optical frequency standards at PTB with those at the Institute of Quantum Optics (IQ) at the Leibniz University of Hanover, and the Max Planck Institutes in Erlangen (MPL) and Garching (MPQ). We demonstrate for the first time that within several minutes a phase coherent comparison of clock lasers at the few 10(-15) level can also be accomplished when the lasers are more than 100 km apart. Based on the performance of the fiber link to the IQ, we estimate the expected stability for the link from PTB to MPQ via MPL that bridges a distance of approximately 900 km.

Long term comparison of two fiber based frequency comb systems.

Mode-locked erbium-doped fiber lasers are ideal comb generators for optical frequency metrology. We compare two fiber frequency combs by measuring an optical frequency independently with both combs and comparing their results. The two frequency measurements agree within 6x10-16. This is to our knowledge the first direct comparison between two fiber based frequency combs.

Phase-locked two-branch erbium-doped fiber laser system for long-term precision measurements of optical frequencies.

We present a highly versatile approach to the application of femtosecond Er:fiber lasers in optical frequency metrology. Our concept relies on the implementation of two parallel amplifiers, seeded by a single master oscillator. With the comb spacing locked to a frequency of 100 MHz, we apply the output from the first amplifier to generate a feedback signal to achieve a simultaneous phase-lock for the comb offset frequency. The output of the independently configurable second amplifier enables precision frequency measurements in the visible and near-infrared. As a first application, we continuously measure the absolute frequency of a resonator-stabilized diode laser over a period of 88 hours.

Ultraprecise measurement of optical frequency ratios.

We developed a novel technique for frequency measurement and synthesis, based on the operation of a femtosecond comb generator as transfer oscillator. The technique can be used to measure frequency ratios of any optical signals throughout the visible and near-infrared part of the spectrum. Relative uncertainties of 10(-18) for averaging times of 100 s are possible. Using a Nd:YAG laser in combination with a nonlinear crystal we measured the frequency ratio of the second harmonic nu(SH) at 532 nm to the fundamental nu(0) at 1064 nm, nu(SH)/nu(0) = 2.000 000 000 000 000 001x (1 +/- 7x10(-19)).