1.5 μm - optical frequency standard iodine stabilized in the 10-15 range for space applications

We lead the development of an optical frequency standard (OFS) operating in the C-band of Telecom domain, with demonstrated residual frequency instability of 4.8 x 10(-14) tau(-1/2) and a minimum value of 6 x 10(-15) from 50 s to 100 s. The frequency stabilization is fulfilled using Doppler free spectroscopy of I-127(2) iodine vapor, associated to modulation transfer spectroscopy technique. The iodine hyperfine line used to stabilize the 1542 nm laser diode exhibits a quality factor at 514 nm (Q similar to 10(9)). An efficient third harmonic generation (THG) process is developed to bridge the frequency gap between IR and visible ranges of the optical domain. The efficiency of the THG operation is P-3w/P-w > 36 %. A more compact-fully fibered OFS is under development, using frequency modulation technique associated to third harmonic of the iodine saturation line. This approach could meet the needs of various space projects requiring high precision length measurement between independent spacecrafts, or stabilization of the long distance optical links.