IQIM Postdoctoral and Graduate Student Seminar

Abstract: State of the art optical lattice atomic clocks have reached a relative inaccuracy level of order 10^-18, making them the most stable time references in existence. One of the limitations to the precision of these clocks is the quantum projection noise caused by the measurement of the atomic state. This limit, known as the standard quantum limit (SQL), can be overcome by entangling the atoms. By performing spin squeezing, it is possible to robustly generate such entanglement and therefore surpass the SQL of precision in optical atomic clocks. I will report on recent experimental progress toward realizing spin squeezing in an 171Yb optical lattice clock. A high-finesse micromirror-based optical cavity operating in the strong coupling regime of cavity quantum electrodynamics mediates the atom-atom interaction necessary for generating the entanglement. By exceeding the SQL in this state of the art system, we are aiming to advance precision time metrology and expand the boundaries of quantum control and measurement.