Abstract

A compact optical clock and frequency comb system is presented, based on a $1\mathrm{GHz}$ octave-spanning Ti:sapphire laser referenced to the $F_2^{\left(2\right)}(P\left(7\right),v_3)$ optical transition in methane at $3.39\mu \mathrm{m}$. The reference methane transition is accessed by a stabilized HeNe laser in a compact transportable format. The output from the octave-spanning Ti:sapphire laser is used to generate a mid-IR comb at the reference wavelength $3.39\mu \mathrm{m}$. Direct comparison of the stabilized optical frequency comb with an ultralow expansion glass cavity-stabilized diode laser at $674\mathrm{nm}$ shows an Allan deviation of the frequency comb of $3\times {10}^{-14}$ in $20\mathrm{s}$.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

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