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A Crystal Source Reaches the Nuclear Clock's Wavelength
Random quasi-phase matching in strontium tetraborate produced continuous-wave 148.4-nanometer light, with output rising from 1.9 to 5.7 nanowatts under temperature optimization.
Summary
Random quasi-phase matching in strontium tetraborate produced continuous-wave 148.4-nanometer light, with output rising from 1.9 to 5.7 nanowatts under temperature optimization.
Driving the thorium-229 isomer transition in a solid-state nuclear clock requires continuous-wave light near 148.4 nanometers. The reported source frequency-doubles 296.8-nanometer light in strontium tetraborate using random quasi-phase matching, then separates and measures the harmonic with a purpose-built prism spectrometer. Output reached 1.9 nanowatts at room temperature and 5.7 nanowatts at the optimum crystal temperature. The conversion response showed several closely spaced maxima between 30 and 50 degrees Celsius, so a small temperature change could move the source from a peak to a minimum. The work demonstrates and characterizes the source; it does not report a completed clock.
Why it matters
Random quasi-phase matching in strontium tetraborate produced continuous-wave 148.4-nanometer light, with output rising from 1.9 to 5.7 nanowatts under temperature optimization.
Limits and context
- The work demonstrates and characterizes the source; it does not report a completed clock.
Key claims
Random quasi-phase matching in strontium tetraborate produced continuous-wave 148.4-nanometer light, with output rising from 1.9 to 5.7 nanowatts under temperature optimization.
Qualification: The work demonstrates and characterizes the source; it does not report a completed clock.
Evidence: source-2026-11-02-015
Sources
- arXiv preprint 2610.42055, original v1arXiv · primary research
Corrections
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