自然杂志 ›› 2007, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (1): 12-12.

• 论文 • 上一篇    下一篇

精密度的追求

特奥多尔.亨施   

  1. 诺贝尔物理学奖获得者,马克斯 普朗克量子光学研究所,路得维希 马克西米利安慕尼黑大学物理系,德国
  • 收稿日期:2006-06-05 出版日期:2007-02-25 发布日期:2007-02-25

Passion for Precision

Theodor W.Hnsch   

  1. Nobel Prize Winner in Physics,Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Garching,Germany
  • Received:2006-06-05 Online:2007-02-25 Published:2007-02-25

摘要: 锁模飞秒激光产生的光频梳完全革新了光频率的计数技术。有了它们,只需要一步就可以将光学频率和微波频率连接起来,它们还提供了长期缺失的光学原子钟的钟表机构。通过扩展时间和频率的度量衡学的极限,它们使基本物理定律新的检验成为可能。通过用铯原子钟的微波频率对氢原子和其他原子的光学共振频率的精密比较,将确定基本物理常数可能的缓慢变化的灵敏度极限。光学高次谐波的产生将频梳技术扩展到极端紫外,开启了精密激光光谱学新的光谱领域。频梳技术也通过对超快激光脉冲的电场的控制成为阿秒(attosecond)科学的关键。

关键词: 高精度光谱学, 激光光谱学, 诺贝尔报告, 光频梳

Abstract: Optical frequency combs from mode locked femtosecond lasers have revolutionized the art of counting the frequency of light. They can link optical and microwave frequencies in a single step, and they provide the long missing clockwork for optical atomic clocks. By extending the limits of time and frequency metrology, they enable new tests of fundamental physics laws. Precise comparisons of optical resonance frequencies of atomic hydrogen and other atoms with the microwave frequency of a cesium atomic clock are establishing sensitive limits for possible slow variations of fundamental constants. Optical high harmonic generation is extending frequency comb techniques into the extreme ultraviolet, opening a new spectral territory to precision laser spectroscopy. Frequency comb techniques are also providing a key to attosecond science by offering control of the electric field of ultrafast laser pulses.

Key words: high precision spectroscopy, laser spectroscopy, Nobel lecture, optical frequency combs

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