Title: Quantum Clock for Quantum Metrology & Fundamental Science

Speaker: Prof. Subhadeep De, IUCAA Pune

Abstract: Atomic clocks having unprecedented accuracy are realized either by probing forbidden optical transitions of: neutral atoms localized in an optical lattice or a singly charged atomic ion trapped in an electrodynamic trap. The tick rate of such clocks is influenced by unimaginably tiny perturbations of the energy states associated with the highly forbidden transitions of the atoms/ ions those are used for the clock operation. The perturbations could even be caused by variations of the fundamental constants, breaking of fundamental symmetries, gravitational red-shifts at millimeter scale, gravitation waves, influence of the dark matters, and so on. Thus, accurate intercomparison of the geographically distributed ultra-stable and highly accurate optical atomic clocks (quantum clocks), those acts like "networked quantum sensors", are used to explore the foundations of science, geodetic measurements, and testing the general theory of relativity. At the Precision & Quantum Measurement laboratory (PQM-lab: https://pqmlab.iucaa.in/ [1]), IUCAA we are developing an optical atomic clock based on trapped ytterbium-ions and aiming to explore fundamental aspects of science using it. I shall discuss some of these in my lecture.