Frequency-comb-based digital clockwork for next-generation optical clocks

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This proposal aims to develop optical clockworks, the systems used to read out the time from an optical clock. An optical clock uses a very stable laser, referenced to an isolated atom’s or multiple atoms’ transition frequency to provide very fine and accurate subdivisions of time. Its precision comes from the very high frequency of oscillation of light compared to usual radio frequency oscillators, but this also makes it difficult to read the clock because the frequency is too high for conventional electronic means. Since these optical clocks already enable better time measurements and are likely to soon replace radio frequency atomic clock in time and frequency standards, it is very important that we develop the basic technology to support them.