Demonstration of quantum interference metrology with amplified ultrashort laser pulses

This study demonstrates that amplified frequency comb laser pulses can be used to measure optical transition frequencies with high accuracy without the need for narrowband CW lasers. The method is similar to Ramsey spectroscopy, but uses pulses separated in time rather than in space to probe the evolution of an atomic superposition. As this approach combines high peak power with high precision, it seems particularly promising for precision measurements that require vacuum-ultraviolet or shorter wavelengths. Interesting candidates are the precise determination of the ground state Lamb shift in helium and nuclear size effects of helium and hydrogen-like ions.