AlGaInN laser-diode technology for optical clocks and atom interferometry

Abstract

Optical clocks have demonstrated an improvement in temporal accuracy of several orders of magnitude over existing time standards based on caesium. Such systems hold great promise in many industrial sectors including financial time stamping, GPS-free navigation and network synchronisation. Atom interferometry has proven to be a reliable method of precision gravity sensing and finds application in geological studies, including earthquake warning systems and oil exploration. Such systems require a number of sophisticated lasers in a compact and reliable format for use outside of a laboratory environment, suitable for commercialisation and user transportation. Of particular interest, is emerging AlGaInN laser diode technology that has the potential to provide practical solutions for next generation optical clock technology.