Co-Sponsored Event: Lasers and Atoms for Time and Position

Thursday, April 7th, 2016 at 6:00 PM

Geometrics, 2190 Fortune Dr. San Jose, CA 95131

PROGRAM

6:00 PM to 6:30 PM Check in
6:30 PM to 7:30 PM Presentation
7:30 PM to 7:45 PM Q&A

Organizer: IEEE Santa Clara Valley Section-Instrumentation and Measurement Chapter
    

Session Abstract:With precision laser spectroscopy, laser-‐cooling and trapping of atoms, and femtosecond optical frequency combs, we now have the science and technology to measure Time and space with unprecedented precision. To date, and because of various constraints and bottlenecks, the capabilities of the high performance optical-‐atomic systems have not yet found their way into real-‐world applications. Questions arise as to how to optimally leverage quantum systems for fundamental science and applications. One limitation of the highest performance atomic clocks is in transferring Time from one location to another. We are exploring the prospects for doing time and frequency transfer, and precise ranging using free-‐space laser links, with the goal of operating two-‐way laser links between ground and space. These capabilities would support and enable future scientific missions such as cold atom clocks in space, tests of General Relativity, high accuracy comparison of ground clocks around the world, and perhaps searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. These capabilities could also serve the important function of enhancing the performance of existing GNSS navigation systems as well as precision measurements in earth sciences such as geodesy, sea level determinations and environmental monitoring.

RSVP by April 5, 2016 to Brian.Lee@ieee.org

More details available at http://ewh.ieee.org/r6/scv/ims/

Speaker: Leo Hollberg, Professor, Physics, Stanford

Bio: Leo Hollberg, Professor, Physics, Stanford University since 2011. Two prior years were as the CTO at AOSense. Leo spent 20+ years at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). His PhD was at the University of Colorado prior to a postdoc at AT&T Bell Labs. His research has focused on high-resolution laser spectroscopy and precision measurements, including: fs-optical frequency combs, laser-cooled and -trapped atoms, semiconductor lasers, ultra-sensitive detection of trace-gases, optical coherence effects, chip-scale-atomic-clocks and -magnetometers, optical frequency standards, and related. At Stanford he is associated with HEPL, and Stanford Centers on: Position Navigation and Time (SCPNT), Photonics SPRC, and environment Woods Institute.