Developing ultra-stable lasers and optical clocks for future space missions

Optical cavity-stabilised lasers and optical clocks are unique tools that can improve satellite navigation systems, Earth Observation and large-scale tests of physics

A new activity between GSTP and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) will develop optical clocks in space for future improved navigation and timing. NPL is working on several parallel-running ESA contracted and UK Space Agency (UKSA) funded activities focussed on these different applications, all with the aim, in each case, of increasing the Technology Readiness Level (TRL). There is significant interest in incorporating such optical atomic clock and ultra-stable laser technology in applications in future Science (fundamental physics and cosmology), Earth Observation (relativistic geodesy) and Navigation (future GNSS) Space Agency programmes. For the latter, there are possibilities for optical clocks and cavity-stabilised lasers in a few-satellite low-Earth-orbit (LEO) constellation to provide faster updates to MEO constellation clocks, with less dependence on atmospherically limited orbit data uploads, from multiple ground stations.

More: NPL, UKSA and ESA develop optical clocks for future space missions - NPL