About

A research company working on a specific problem

Overtone Photonics was founded to address a gap between laboratory laser stabilisation and the demands of deployed quantum sensing.

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Approach

The company grew out of academic work in atomic, molecular and optical physics. Our approach is to combine established atomic spectroscopy with careful engineering of the things that usually limit performance outside a laboratory: thermal stability, magnetic shielding, mechanical rigidity and polarisation control.

We work in the open where we can. Much of the surrounding ecosystem in experimental physics is open hardware, and we intend our instruments to integrate cleanly with the control systems research groups already use.

The name

An overtone is a harmonic above a fundamental tone. It is also a real spectroscopic technique. The two lasers used in Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency happen to sit close to a musical interval of a major sixth, a ratio of five to three; the mark above is those two frequencies drawn as standing waves.

Collaboration

We are interested in working with research groups, national laboratories and industrial partners on frequency reference problems. Enquiries are welcome at any stage.