Optical Frequency Standard with a Single 171Yb + Ion

With the development of atomic frequency standards, frequencies and time intervals became the physical quantities that can be measured with the highest precision. One of the most promising developments in the ongoing research for ever more accurate frequency standards are frequency standards based on narrow optical transitions in laser-cooled ions stored in radio-frequency traps. These single-ion optical frequency standards have the potential to reach instabilities and systematic uncertainties beyond the capabilities of the best microwave standards available at present.