Stability Measurements of the Ca and Yb Optical Frequency Standards

Abstract—We describe two types of optical atomic clocks. The first is based on freely expanding calcium atoms and is optimized for experimental simplicity and high stability. The second is based on Yb atoms confined to an optical lattice that is designed to yield minimal shifts for the clock transition at 578 nm. Measurements of the effective beatnote between the clocks via a femtosecond-laser frequency comb show a fractional frequency instability of <5 x 10-16 @ 100 s averaging time. I