The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Purpose

The Sr+ optical atomic clock at NRC is the most precise and accurate instrument ever constructed in Canada, and is one of the best in the world. Continued improvements to its accuracy are strategically and technologically important, due to its role in the redefinition of the SI second with optical clocks, and as an ultimate frequency standard against which all other frequency generation and measurement devices will have to be calibrated. The Project aims to make a substantial leap in accuracy of the NRC Sr+ clock using a bold approach to remove its leading errors: the project team will develop a new cryogenic ion trap. The design and construction of the new trap will allow us to completely eliminate the collisional and blackbody radiation shifts to the clock frequency, and enable the clock accuracy to be improved by over an order of magnitude.