Abstract
High-resolution spectroscopy of calcium is attractive for several reasons and has been performed by a number of groups.1 A strong di-pole-allowed 1S0-3P1 transition at 423 rim allows laser cooling and trapping of calcium and can be accessed by diode lasers. The very narrow 1S0-3P1 intercombination transition at 657 nm (≈1012) can be used for developing an optical frequency standard. The transitions among the sublevels of the P triplet fall in the far infrared (FIR) and are also suitable for FIR frequency standards.2 The optical frequency standard can be compact and portable by making use of diode lasers. Free atoms in a beam or trapped cold atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) can be used. Recently, the frequency of the S-P optical transition was measured by a phase-coherent chain to the cesium frequency standard at 9.2 Ghz.3 It is one of the best-known optical frequencies in the visible and is recommended by the BIPM for the practical realization of the meter.
© 1998 Optical Society of America
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