The first pilot project within the initiative on quantum technologies (www.qutega.de) initiated by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) started in May 2017. The project is titled optIclock (optical single ion clock) and has the goal of developing a demonstrator device of an optical single ion clock within three years. The research consortium – Ferdinand Braun Institute Berlin, High Finesse GmbH, Menlo Systems GmbH, PTB Braunschweig, QUARTIQ GmbH, Qubig GmbH, TOPTICA Photonics AG, University of Bonn, University of Siegen und Vacom GmbH – obtains 4.5 Million Euro BMBF funding. Together with a contribution of 1.5 Million Euro from the participating industrial partners, the total financial volume of the project is 6 Million Euro.

Applications of such devices comprise the direct measurement of time via the realization of a highly accurate frequency standard, the precise synchronization of large networks or distributed radio telescopes, navigation in general as well as the improvement of global satellite navigation systems.

Menlo Systems will develop a compact sub-Hz Optical Reference System (cubic cavity design) which will be used to interrogate the atomic transition of the ion clock.

For more information please visit: www.opticlock.de

Photo taken at the project kick-off meeting