Lattice-induced photon scattering in an optical lattice clock

Off-resonant scattering of lattice laser radiation by ^87Sr atoms in the two states ^1S₀ and ^3P₀ and its effect on clock operation are investigated. It is found that Raman scattering eventually limits the achievable frequency instability and thus limits the useful interrogation time in optical lattice clocks at presently used lattice depths.