Theoretical study of the accuracy limits of optical resonance frequency measurements.

The principal limits for the accuracy of the resonance frequency measurements set by the asymmetry of the natural resonance line shape are studied and applied to the recent accurate frequency measurements in the two-photon 1s-2s resonance and in the one-photon 1s-2p resonance in a hydrogen atom. This limit for 1s-2s resonance is found to be approximately 10(-5) Hz compared to the accuracy achieved in experiment +/-46 Hz. In the case of a deuterium atom the limit is essentially larger: 10(-2) Hz.