INRIM Sr Optical Clock: An Optically Loaded Apparatus for High-Stability Metrology

We report on the development of a new compact strontium optical lattice clock employing a 2D-MOT as cold atomic source. The clock system reliability is currently studied using the most abundant isotope, the bosonic Sr-88. More than 10(5) Sr-88 atoms are loaded in the optical lattice at 813 nm at temperatures of few microKelvin. All the needed optical frequencies are stabilized to a zero-CTE high finesse optical resonator, and can be operated without frequency adjustments for weeks. The system shows the advantage of optical guiding and switching the atomic source to the clock spectroscopy region by demonstrating more than 17 s lifetime. First spectroscopy tests on the clock transition on Sr-88 atoms has been performed by magnetic-field induced spectroscopy.

Automated summary

This study reports on the development of a new compact strontium optical lattice clock using a 2D-MOT as cold atomic source and investigating the clock system reliability with the bosonic Sr-88 isotope. Optical frequencies are stabilized to a high finesse optical resonator for weeks of operation without adjustments. The system demonstrates advantages such as optical guiding and atomic source switching for clock spectroscopy, showing promising potential for practical applications.