Sparkled by the invention of optical frequency combs, the high-precision optical metrology (we are speaking of accuracy 10^-16 and better!) has become a striving and fast growing discipline, which is being rediscovered. This is supported by the availability of practical and affordable comb sources, based on modelocked fiber lasers. This course is aimed to explain the principles and learn basic techniques of optical precision metrology, from ultimate frequency standards to time, frequency, and length measurement schemes.
Starting with the some fundamentals and generic optical measurement schemes, we continue to optical frequency standards, their physical background and practical realization. Important issues for practical use are conversion and comparison between optical frequency standards and electronic (RF und microwave) standards, as well as methods of the signal dissemination. We learn about modelocked lasers as optical clockworks and transfer devices and pay special attention to novel measurement schemes based on frequency comb techniques. In the course we discuss examples of precision optical measurements: frequency, time, wavelength, position, and displacement from everyday measurements to gravitational observatories, exo-planet search and probing of the long-term stability of world constants.
The course includes an excursion to the Austrian national Bureau of Standards.
Methods and types of precision optical measurements: frequency, time, wavelength, position, displacement. Optical frequency standards, their physical background and practical realization. Conversion and comparison between optical frequency standards and electronic (RF und microwave) standards. Ultimate limitations on precision, probing of the long-term stability of physical constants. Modelocked lasers as optical clockworks and transfer devices. Novel measurement schemes based on frequency comb techniques.
