Single atoms and molecules can be trapped in tightly focused beams of light that form
'optical tweezers', affording exquisite capabilities for the control and detection of individual …

BACKGROUND The generation and control of coherent electromagnetic waves, such as
those provided by electronic oscillators in the radio frequency domain or lasers in the optical …

Optical frequency combs were developed nearly two decades ago to support the world's
most precise atomic clocks. Acting as precision optical synthesizers, frequency combs …

The quest towards the integration of ultra-fast, high-precision optical clocks is reflected in the
large number of high-impact papers on the topic published in the last few years. This interest …

The series of precisely spaced, sharp spectral lines that form an optical frequency comb is
enabling unprecedented measurement capabilities and new applications in a wide range of …

Measurement of optical and vibrational spectra with high resolution provides a way to
identify chemical species in cluttered environments and is of general importance in many …

Extremely narrow optical resonances in cold atoms or single trapped ions can be measured
with high resolution. A laser locked to such a narrow optical resonance could serve as a …

Single trapped ions represent elementary quantum systems that are well isolated from the
environment. They can be brought nearly to rest by laser cooling, and both their internal …

The counter-intuitive aspects of quantum physics have been for long illustrated by thought
experiments, from Einstein's photon box to Schrödinger's cat. These experiments have now …

Laboratory optical atomic clocks achieve remarkable accuracy (now counted to 18 digits or
more), opening possibilities for exploring fundamental physics and enabling new …