A fiber link for the remote comparison of optical clocks and geodesy experiments

Abstract

Differential comparisons of distant optical clocks with uncertainties in the 10-18 level linked by phase-stabilized optical fibers can be used to probe the Geoid potential at the centimeter sensitivity. Here, we present the realization and characterization of a coherent optical link that will enable gravitational potential measurements on a baseline of 90km and at 1000m of difference in altitude. This is a proof-of-principle experiment that aims at exploring extensive interconnections between geodesy and frequency metrology.