Awarded ITT - Supply of Frequency Comb Systems

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is seeking to procure 4 separate frequency comb systems for our recently constructed Advanced Quantum Metrology Laboratory (AQML), where they will sit at the heart of a new optical frequency metrology capability. The individual combs will be used to perform different tasks. The requirements for each therefore differ, and they should be quoted separately as a result. A general overview of the purpose and requirements for each of these systems are: 1) Synthesizer comb: The first frequency comb shall be appropriate for transferring the stability of a state-of-the-art ultrastable laser at 1542 nm to lasers operating at other wavelengths. These lasers include probe lasers for Yb and Sr optical lattice clocks as well as lasers used for frequency transfer over optical fibre links. It shall also be appropriate for measuring the absolute frequencies of these lasers and the optical frequency ratios between them. 2) Flexible measurement comb: The second frequency comb shall be more flexible, and appropriate for measuring optical frequencies (and the ratios between them) anywhere in the range from 500 nm to 2000 nm. It shall be possible to stabilise this comb to the same ultrastable laser at 1542 nm. 3) Backup comb: The third frequency comb will be used to provide continuous monitoring of the performance of the first two combs. As such it shall combine the capabilities of both these combs. 4) Microwave comb: The fourth frequency comb will be used in the near infrared for the generation of ultra-stable microwave signals. Comb light should be generated in the C-band.