Optical atomic clocks operate by counting the oscillations of atoms at optical frequencies, offering greater precision compared to traditional microwave atomic clocks.

However, further advancements are needed to create a fully integrated optical atomic clock system on a single chip.

Overall, the integration of photonics on small chips not only reduces the size and weight of optical atomic clocks but also enhances their accessibility for various applications.

While current atomic clocks enable GPS systems to achieve positional accuracy of a few meters, optical atomic clocks could improve this precision to just a few centimeters.

To achieve system stability, the study employs two microcombs with closely spaced frequencies and a small offset, allowing for better signal transfer and necessary self-reference.

The new microcomb technology effectively bridges the high-frequency optical signals of atomic clocks with the lower frequency radio signals required for electronic counting.

This integrated photonics approach significantly reduces the size and weight of optical atomic clock components, making them suitable for mass production and more affordable applications.

Researchers from Purdue University and Chalmers University have developed innovative microcomb technology that miniaturizes optical atomic clocks, potentially enhancing GPS accuracy by a thousandfold.

Current atomic clocks are bulky and complex, limiting their use outside laboratory settings, while the new microcomb chips aim to make these clocks more accessible for various applications.

This advancement in optical atomic clock technology may lead to affordable solutions suitable for widespread use in navigation, autonomous vehicles, and geo-data monitoring.

Future developments in materials and manufacturing are anticipated to further streamline the technology, making ultra-precise timekeeping commonplace in devices like mobile phones and computers.

Microcomb chips generate a spectrum of light frequencies, enabling the locking of one frequency to the atomic clock's oscillation, which facilitates size reduction while maintaining precision.