dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaFrequency comparisons and absolute frequency measurements of 171Yb+ single-ion optical frequency standards
| Authors | E. Peik, B. Lipphardt, H. Schnatz, T. Schneider, Chr. Tamm, S. G. Karshenboim |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0504101 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0504101 |
| Journal | Laser Physics 15, 1028 (2005) |
Abstract
We describe experiments with an optical frequency standard based on a laser cooled $^{171}$Yb$^+$ ion confined in a radiofrequency Paul trap. The electric-quadrupole transition from the $^2S_{1/2}(F=0)$ ground state to the $^2D_{3/2}(F=2)$ state at the wavelength of 436 nm is used as the reference transition. In order to compare two $^{171}$Yb$^+$ standards, separate frequency servo systems are employed to stabilize two probe laser frequencies to the reference transition line centers of two independently stored ions. The experimental results indicate a relative instability (Allan standard deviation) of the optical frequency difference between the two systems of $\sigma_y(1000 {\rm s})=5\cdot 10^{-16}$ only, so that shifts in the sub-hertz range can be resolved. Shifts of several hertz are observed if a stationary electric field gradient is superimposed on the radiofrequency trap field. The absolute optical transition frequency of Yb$^+$ at 688 THz was measured with a cesium atomic clock at two times separated by 2.8 years. A temporal variation of this frequency can be excluded within a $1\sigma$ relative uncertainty of $4.4\cdot 10^{-15}$ yr$^{-1}$. Combined with recently published values for the constancy of other transition frequencies this measurement provides a limit on the present variability of the fine structure constant $\alpha$ at the level of $2.0\cdot 10^{-15}$ yr$^{-1}$.
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"abstract": "We describe experiments with an optical frequency standard based on a laser\ncooled $^{171}$Yb$^+$ ion confined in a radiofrequency Paul trap. The\nelectric-quadrupole transition from the $^2S_{1/2}(F=0)$ ground state to the\n$^2D_{3/2}(F=2)$ state at the wavelength of 436 nm is used as the reference\ntransition. In order to compare two $^{171}$Yb$^+$ standards, separate\nfrequency servo systems are employed to stabilize two probe laser frequencies\nto the reference transition line centers of two independently stored ions. The\nexperimental results indicate a relative instability (Allan standard deviation)\nof the optical frequency difference between the two systems of $\\sigma_y(1000\n{\\rm s})=5\\cdot 10^{-16}$ only, so that shifts in the sub-hertz range can be\nresolved. Shifts of several hertz are observed if a stationary electric field\ngradient is superimposed on the radiofrequency trap field. The absolute optical\ntransition frequency of Yb$^+$ at 688 THz was measured with a cesium atomic\nclock at two times separated by 2.8 years. A temporal variation of this\nfrequency can be excluded within a $1\\sigma$ relative uncertainty of $4.4\\cdot\n10^{-15}$ yr$^{-1}$. Combined with recently published values for the constancy\nof other transition frequencies this measurement provides a limit on the\npresent variability of the fine structure constant $\\alpha$ at the level of\n$2.0\\cdot 10^{-15}$ yr$^{-1}$.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0504101",
"authors": [
"E. Peik",
"B. Lipphardt",
"H. Schnatz",
"T. Schneider",
"Chr. Tamm",
"S. G. Karshenboim"
],
"categories": [
"physics.atom-ph"
],
"journal_ref": "Laser Physics 15, 1028 (2005)",
"title": "Frequency comparisons and absolute frequency measurements of 171Yb+ single-ion optical frequency standards",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0504101"
},
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