Physics & Quantum · Recorded milestone
Optical frequency comb
Recorded year2000
Hall and Hänsch's laser comb counts the oscillations of light directly, making optical clocks and ultra-precise spectroscopy practical.
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- Atomic clockRecorded · 1955enables
- Integrated circuitRecorded · 1958requires
- LaserRecorded · 1960enables
- Low-loss optical fibreRecorded · 1970requires
Led to
- Optical lattice clockRecorded · 2005enables
- Clocks that map gravityRecorded · 2020enables
- Nuclear clock transitionRecorded · 2024enables
- Self-stabilising nuclear clockRecorded · 2026enables
- Air sensed molecule by moleculeForecast · ~2030enables
- Second redefined by optical clocksForecast · ~2030enables
- Working nuclear clocksForecast · ~2035enables
- Census of nearby habitable worldsForecast · ~2050enables
- Quantum-limited measurementForecast · ~2058enables
Sources & evidence
Dataset updated 2026-10-18. This individual record has not been separately re-reviewed.