Extreme ultraviolet frequency comb metrology

D.Z. Kandula, C. Gohle, T.J. Pinkert, W.M.G. Ubachs, K.S.E. Eikema

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Abstract

The remarkable precision of frequency-comb (FC) lasers is transferred to the extreme ultraviolet (XUV, wavelengths shorter than 100nm), a frequency region previously not accessible to these devices. A frequency comb at XUV wavelengths near 51nm is generated by amplification and coherent up-conversion of a pair of pulses originating from a near-infrared femtosecond FC laser. The phase coherence of the source in the XUV is demonstrated using helium atoms as a ruler and phase detector. Signals in the form of stable Ramsey-like fringes with high contrast are observed when the FC laser is scanned over P states of helium, from which the absolute transition frequency in the XUV can be extracted. This procedure yields a He4 ionization energy at h× 5945204212(6)MHz, improved by nearly an order of magnitude in accuracy, thus challenging QED calculations of this two-electron system. © 2010 The American Physical Society.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)063001
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume105
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

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