The LTF’s mission is to explore and push the frontiers in time and frequency research, optical metrology, and ultrafast science and technology.
LTF also contributes Switzerland to join in a near future the limited number of countries that actively participate to the definition of the international atomic time TAI with primary frequency standards, with the development of the unique atomic fountain clock FOCS-2 that operates with a continuous beam of cold cesium atoms.
Key competences
LTF’s key competences to achieve its research objectives are:
- Ultrafast lasers development and analysis
- Various frequency combs systems
- State-of-the-art ion beam sputtering (IBS) machine for custom optics fabrication
- Cold atoms
- Noise/stability analysis for microwave/optical oscillators
- Stabilisation of microwave/optical oscillators
- Vapour cells manufacturing and characterisation
- CPT and double resonance spectroscopy in alkali vapour cells
- Vapour cells atomic clocks
- Time & Frequency metrology
- State-of-the-art reference H-maser