Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.5
1.9
Journals
Photonics
Special Issues
Optical Atomic Clocks: Progress, Applications and Fundamental Physics
share announcement

Optical Atomic Clocks: Progress, Applications and Fundamental Physics

A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732). This special issue belongs to the section "Quantum Photonics and Technologies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 August 2026 | Viewed by 3224

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Matteo Barbiero

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Torino, Italy
Interests: optical clock; quantum optics; atomic clocks; clock stability; optical clocks; ultracold quantum gases; quantum mechanics; rare-earth doped fiber laser; RAMAN LASER; brillouin fiber laser; radiation-balanced fiber laser; fiber laser; optical lattice clock; magic wavelength; AC stark shift
Dr. Yuanfei Wei

E-Mail
Guest Editor
1. Key Laboratory of Atom Frequency Standards, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
2. Macao Institute of Materials Science and Engineering (MIMSE), Faculty of Innovation Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
Interests: optical clocks; light field control; atomic and molecular physics; quantum precision spectroscopy; quantum chemistry calculations

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past two decades, rapid advancements in laser technology and cold atom physics have driven remarkable developments in optical frequency standards. The frequency stability and uncertainty of optical atomic clocks now surpass those of the cesium atomic fountain clock by two orders of magnitude; this has triggered a debate and prompted us to launch this Special Issue. Besides metrological applications, optical atomic clocks have already proven to be effective in geodetic evaluations and hold great potential for a wide range of applications in the field of quantum precision measurements and exploration of physics beyond the standard model. These include probing the temporal stability of a fine structure constant, verifying relativistic effects, and searching dark matter and gravitational wave signatures.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest advancements in the field of optical clocks, covering new developments in theoretical research, experimental techniques, and emerging applications. We welcome the submission of original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and case studies from researchers, academics, and industry experts.

Dr. Matteo Barbiero
Dr. Yuanfei Wei
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • optical frequency standard
  • optical atomic clock
  • frequency stability
  • uncertainty
  • physics beyond standard model
  • quantum precision measurement

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

18 pages, 3381 KB  
Article
A 360° Continuous Tuning Voltage-Controlled Phase Shifter for Laser Frequency Locking Systems in Optical Frequency Standards
by Yue-Fei Wang, Ce Qin, Yuan-Fei Wei, Hao Zhang, Yi-Yu Cai, Wei Cai and Zhi-Song Xiao
Photonics 2025, 12(12), 1161; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12121161 - 26 Nov 2025
Viewed by 791
Abstract
This paper presents a voltage-controlled phase shifter (VCPS) capable of 360° continuous adjustment, applied in laser frequency-locking systems to obtain maximum amplitude error signals with minimal dispersion. The phase-shifting unit is realized through CMOS integrated circuit design, utilizing comparators, logic gate control modules, [...] Read more.
This paper presents a voltage-controlled phase shifter (VCPS) capable of 360° continuous adjustment, applied in laser frequency-locking systems to obtain maximum amplitude error signals with minimal dispersion. The phase-shifting unit is realized through CMOS integrated circuit design, utilizing comparators, logic gate control modules, and filters. Simulations verify the VCPS, composed of three cascaded units, achieves 360° continuous phase adjustment. A printed circuit board (PCB) was fabricated with the integration of electronic components. The test results demonstrate that the VCPS exhibits a continuous 360° phase shift in one direction with increasing control voltage. It operates from kHz to 50 MHz and maintains a peak-to-peak output amplitude of 5 V or 10 V. The proposed VCPS has been successfully applied in cold-atom interferometry, quantum memory experiments, and optical frequency standards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Atomic Clocks: Progress, Applications and Fundamental Physics)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 2687 KB  
Review
Current Progress on 229Th Nuclear Clock
by Yuanqiang Luo, Xiaodong Shao, Zhiyi Wei, Jian Zhao and Hainian Han
Photonics 2026, 13(2), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13020141 - 31 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1704
Abstract
The 229Th nuclear clock, based on a low-energy nuclear transition, has attracted significant interest as a next-generation time and frequency standard. It is expected to surpass current leading optical atomic clocks in performance. Because nuclear transitions are naturally isolated from external electromagnetic [...] Read more.
The 229Th nuclear clock, based on a low-energy nuclear transition, has attracted significant interest as a next-generation time and frequency standard. It is expected to surpass current leading optical atomic clocks in performance. Because nuclear transitions are naturally isolated from external electromagnetic fields, their sensitivity to blackbody radiation and environmental noise is much lower than that of electronic transitions. This gives the nuclear clock a unique advantage in both stability and accuracy. This paper reviews the current progress in nuclear clock research, focusing on the physical properties of the 229Th isomer, the operating principles, and the primary implementation methods of the nuclear clock. Comparing key technical approaches, specifically trapped ions and thorium-doped crystals, and introducing the VUV frequency comb technology used to drive the nuclear transition. Finally, we provide an outlook on the future development of the field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Atomic Clocks: Progress, Applications and Fundamental Physics)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop