Systematic evaluation of a ¹⁷¹Yb optical clock by synchronous comparison between two lattice systems

Optical clocks are the most precise measurement devices. Here we experimentally characterize one such clock based on the ¹ S ₀-³ P ₀ transition of neutral ¹⁷¹Yb atoms confined in an optical lattice. Given that the systematic evaluation using an interleaved stabilization scheme is unable to avoid noise from the clock laser, synchronous comparisons against a second ¹⁷¹Yb lattice system were implemented to accelerate the evaluation. The fractional instability of one clock falls below 4 × 10 ^-17 after an averaging over a time of 5,000 seconds. The systematic frequency shifts were corrected with a total uncertainty of 1.7 × 10 ^-16. The lattice polarizability shift currently contributes the largest source. This work paves the way to measuring the absolute clock transition frequency relative to the primary Cs standard or against the International System of Units (SI) second.