147 research outputs found
Coherent, multi-heterodyne spectroscopy using stabilized optical frequency combs
The broadband, coherent nature of narrow-linewidth fiber frequency combs is
exploited to measure the full complex spectrum of a molecular gas through
multi-heterodyne spectroscopy. We measure the absorption and phase shift
experienced by each of 155,000 individual frequency comb lines, spaced by 100
MHz and spanning from 1495 nm to 1620 nm, after passing through a hydrogen
cyanide gas. The measured phase spectrum agrees with Kramers-Kronig
transformation of the absorption spectrum. This technique can provide a full
complex spectrum rapidly, over wide bandwidths, and with hertz-level accuracy.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Quantum-limited optical time transfer for future geosynchronous links
The combination of optical time transfer and optical clocks opens up the
possibility of large-scale free-space networks that connect both ground-based
optical clocks and future space-based optical clocks. Such networks promise
better tests of general relativity, dark matter searches, and gravitational
wave detection. The ability to connect optical clocks to a distant satellite
could enable space-based very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), advanced
satellite navigation, clock-based geodesy, and thousand-fold improvements in
intercontinental time dissemination. Thus far, only optical clocks have pushed
towards quantum-limited performance. In contrast, optical time transfer has not
operated at the analogous quantum limit set by the number of received photons.
Here, we demonstrate time transfer with near quantum-limited acquisition and
timing at 10,000 times lower received power than previous approaches. Over 300
km between mountaintops in Hawaii with launched powers as low as 40 W,
distant timescales are synchronized to 320 attoseconds. This nearly
quantum-limited operation is critical for long-distance free-space links where
photons are few and amplification costly -- at 4.0 mW transmit power, this
approach can support 102 dB link loss, more than sufficient for future time
transfer to geosynchronous orbits
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