TOPTICLOCK

Optical quantum clock

TOPTICLOCK was developped to make optical quantum clocks accessible for users. The complete instrument comprises a clock laser system (CLS) that ist actively stabilized to the 435.5 nm optical transition of a single trapped and laser-cooled 171Yb ion. TOPTICLOCK provides highly accurate and precise optical output at 871 nm (optical frequency standard version) and additionally radiofrequency and pulse-per-second outputs (optical quantum clock version). The two-rack-system is transportable and - after onsite installation - easy to operate by trained personell. Thanks to its remote control and monitoring, the access to various operation modes, and the reliable performance, it can be used for industrial, institutional, and research applications.

 

TOPTICLOCK Wins Two 2026 Awards

Our TOPTICLOCK has received the 2026 SPIE Prism Award in the Quantum Tech category. The award was presented at Photonics West 2026 in San Francisco, recognizing achievements in photonics innovation. Press release

The TOPTICLOCK team was also honored with the 2026 Paul F. Forman Team Engineering Excellence Award for its engineering performance and innovation. Press release

Your Benefits

Stability and accuracy to the 17th digit
World's first commercial optical quantum clock based on a single laser-cooled ion. 
User-friendly and versatile
TOPTICLOCK allows for fully automated clock operation including calibration sub-routines while offering to run and program individual sequences. 
Full performance within days after transport
Our optical quantum clock achieves specified performance on the 10-17-level within days after transport and installation. 
Commercially available
No need to self-built. Our commercially available TOPTICLOCK will be delivered and installed at your premises. Until recently, optical quantum clocks were labnoratory-scale research-type setups designed and operated by teams of specialized scientists and engineers. Thanks to TOPTICLOCK that time is over.
Experience from many completed projects
TOPTICA’s optical quantum clock builds on successful collaborative research projects.  It closely relates to opticlock, that was jointly coordinated by TOPTICA and the German National Metrology Institute PTB. 

Applications

Time and frequency standard
Ground-based satellite navigation
Frequency distribution and infrastructural systems
GPS hold-over
Quantum physics science

Options

Physics package
The rack-integrated package contains 1) Paul-type rf ion trap with low heating rate; 2) ultra high vacuum system for ion trap and Yb oven; 3) addressing and imaging optics for multiple laser beams.
Diode laser system DLC MDL Yb+
Rack integrated single-frequency, tunable and frequency-stabilized four-color diode laser system for Yb+, used to: 1) ionize Yb atoms isotope specific (399 nm); 2) laser-cool and optically pump (370 nm) and repump (935 nm, 760 nm) Yb+; 3) detect (370 nm) Yb+.
Clock Laser System
Customized version of 871 nm TOPTICA rack-integrated clock laser system MCLS, including: 1) Tunable Diode Laser DLC DL pro 871 nm; 2) Ultrastable optical resonator in vaccum, temperature controlled, vibration isolated; 3) High-quality Pound-Drever-Hall frequency stabilization of the laser to the resonator; 4) Single-pass frequency-doubling of the 871 nm light to provide 435.5 nm as requried to addreess the Yb+ clock transition; 5) Fiber-noise cancellation for optical fibers used in the clock laser system.
Frequency stabilization system
Rack-integrated HighFinesse wavelength meter to stabilize the optical frequencies of the multi-color laser system while being calibrated by the clock laser. 
Light processing units
Rack-integrated light procesing units contain optical elements to split or overlap, phase- and amplitude-modulate, optically shut, and fiber-couple light of the involved lasers.
Rack infrastructure and control
Two rack compartments are provided to host the subsystems described above including: 1) Power and digital communication entry modules; 2) Electronics to drive the subsystems; 3) Computer to control and monitor the system; 4) Software to operate the system and to display montoring signals (Grafana)
Optical frequency comb options
TOPTICA's rack-integrated MDFC optical frequency comb with wavelength extension for 871 nm and accessories phase stabilize the MDFC to the output of the optical quantum frequency standard (integrated in optical quantum clock version). Additional extensions and accessories for other wavelengths as requested to interface TOPTICLOCK with other optical frequency standards (optional) or other cw lasers (available optionally). Electronic module to convert optical frequency comb pulses to low-noise RF and pps outputs (integrated in optical quantum clock version). Additional rack compartment if required.
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Literature

Press Releases

  • TOPTICA Introduces TOPTICLOCK

    World's First Commercial Optical Quantum Clock Using a Single Trapped Yb⁺ Ion at the German National Metrology Institute PTB.