Optical frequency standards for time and length applications

The last decade has witnessed tremendous progress in research on optical frequency metrology. Optical frequency standards using optical lattice and single-ion trap technologies have reached levels of stability and accuracy that surpass the performance of the best Cs fountain atomic clocks by orders of magnitude. Optical frequency standards are also used for various applications including length metrology. Optical frequency measurement and links using optical frequency combs and optical fibres play important roles in the development of optical frequency standards. This article introduces optical frequency standards recommended by the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) along with updates provided by recent research results. Frequency ratio measurements and remote frequency comparisons are addressed in relation to the work whose goal is to redefine the second. Optical frequency standard and optical frequency comb applications are also described.