Welcome to the Time and Frequency Laboratory

vers la version française

The Time and Frequency Laboratory constitutes one of the nine key areas of research and innovation of the University of Neuchâtel. The Time-Frequency and Optical Metrology Centre explores and pushes the frontiers in time measurements, photonics, and metrology.

Mission statement

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