Bewerber:
Dr. Albrecht Bartels, Universität Konstanz & Gigaoptics GmbH, Deutschland
Dr. Scott A.Diddams, National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA
Dirk C. Heinecke, Universität Konstanz, Deutschland

Abstract:
Since their invention and first demonstration by Theodor Hänsch und John Hall, optical frequency combs based on femtosecond lasers have revolutionized frequency metrology. The high precision available through frequency combs will allow in the future several important technological improvements, e.g. improvements in the performance of the global positioning system, as well as contribute to solve important fundamental questions, e.g. on the slow variation of physical constants or the search for earth-like planets in the universe.
A frequency comb with 10 GHz spacing of the comb modes has several important advantages compared to other approaches based on femtosecond lasers with repetition rates in the 10 MHz to 1 GHz mode-spacing regime. Since the longitudinal mode spacing of a femtosecond laser is the inverse roundtrip time of the laser pulse inside the cavity, a femtosecond laser with 10 GHz repletion rate is very compact: the complete cavity of the 10 GHz femtosecond laser fits on a single Euro-Cent coin. This compactness provides a highly stable cavity with a reduced susceptibility to mechanical noise.
The development of a self-referenced 10 GHz frequency comb is considered by the proposer as an important step in frequency metrology. One member of the nominated team (Albrecht Bartels) is also with Gigaoptics GmbH, Konstanz. This small company is pursuing the commercialization of this laser as a product. In the foreseeable future the "market" for such a laser will lie within research institutes and national metrology institutes.