Open AccessSlow molecule detection or Ramsey fringes in two-photon spectroscopy: which is better for high resolution spectroscopy and metrology ?
Author(s) -
Anne AmyKlein,
L. F. Constantin,
Christophe Daussy,
Ch. Chardonnet,
R.J. Butcher,
Pierre-Emmanuel Durand,
Gilles Nogues
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.4.000067
Subject(s) - metrology , spectroscopy , optics , photon , interferometry , resolution (logic) , resonance (particle physics) , laser , saturation (graph theory) , materials science , physics , atomic physics , computer science , mathematics , quantum mechanics , combinatorics , artificial intelligence
The CO2 laser locked onto a saturated absorption resonance of OsO4 provides a secondary frequency standard in the 10 mm region, with an accuracy of 50 Hz to 1 kHz. For averaging times less than 100 s its stability performance is better than the Hydrogen maser. This paper deals with the present attempt to increase this performance by using a two-photon molecular resonance as a reference. We begin with some preliminary and promising results on a two-photon line of SF6 leading to characteristics similar to those obtained with a saturation line of OsO4 . Then two alternative methods to increase the resolution are presented : optical detection of slow molecules and a new development of the well-known Ramsey fringes. Metrological features are analyzed for both methods.