CLOCWORC – Compact Low-cost Optical Clocks based on Whispering gallery mOde Resonator frequency Combs

Optical lattice clocks offer superior performance (>100x) over competing technologies and are required in scientific research, satellite-free navigators and timing signals for financial trading. However, existing all-optical clocks are complex and expensive and have not met the needs of the markets. In this project we will develop underpinning technology of all-optical clocks, the frequency comb, using a novel compact low-cost approach. The frequency comb can be thought of as an ‘optical gearbox’ that translates the fast optical frequency into a frequency where it can be measured with electronics and is a key requirement of optical clocks. We will develop novel technology suitable for frequency comb generation that is compact and low-cost.