Astronomical Frequency Comb

Precision astronomy requires an absolute spectral reference against which to measure the detected star light. Conventional gas lamp calibrators provide patchy wavelength coverage with widely varying intensity. Prof. Reid and his research team at IPaQS have developed a  frequency comb source that creates a uniform spectral “ruler” comprising thousands of well-defined reference lines that can be traced to atomic standards.

Optics Express 25, 6450