arXiv:1409.0873 · Physical Review A

Measurement of the branching fractions and lifetime of the 5D5/2 level of Ba+

Carolyn Auchter, Thomas W. Noel, Matthew Hoffman, Spencer Williams, B. B. Blinov

Published Dec 17, 2014• 26 citations

Abstract

We present a measurement of the branching fractions for decay from the long-lived $5{D}_{5/2}$ level in ${^{138}\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$. The branching fraction for decay into the $6{S}_{1/2}$ ground state was found to be $0.846{(25)}_{\mathrm{stat}}{(4)}_{\mathrm{sys}}$. We also report an improved measurement of the $5{D}_{5/2}$ lifetime, ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{5{D}_{5/2}}=31.2(0.9)$ s. Together these measurements provide an experimental determination of transition rates for decay out of the $5{D}_{5/2}$ level. The low ($<7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}$ Torr) pressure in the ion trap in which these measurements were made simplified data acquisition and analysis. Comparison of the experimental results with theoretical predictions of the transition rates shows good agreement.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.90.060501

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Quantum jumps and the single trapped barium ion: Determination of collisional quenching rates for the 5 d2 D5/2 level

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Lifetime measurement of the metastable 4dD5∕22 state in Sr+88 using a single trapped ion

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arXiv:1409.0873 · Physical Review A

Measurement of the branching fractions and lifetime of the 5D5/2 level of Ba+

Carolyn Auchter, Thomas W. Noel, Matthew Hoffman, Spencer Williams, B. B. Blinov

Published Dec 17, 2014• 26 citations

arXiv HTML PDF

Abstract

We present a measurement of the branching fractions for decay from the long-lived

5{D}_{5/2}

level in

{^{138}\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}

. The branching fraction for decay into the

6{S}_{1/2}

ground state was found to be

0.846{(25)}_{\mathrm{stat}}{(4)}_{\mathrm{sys}}

. We also report an improved measurement of the

5{D}_{5/2}

lifetime,

{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{5{D}_{5/2}}=31.2(0.9)

s. Together these measurements provide an experimental determination of transition rates for decay out of the

5{D}_{5/2}

level. The low (

<7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}

Torr) pressure in the ion trap in which these measurements were made simplified data acquisition and analysis. Comparison of the experimental results with theoretical predictions of the transition rates shows good agreement.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.90.060501

Related papers

Branching fractions for P3/2 decays in Ba+

Zhiqiang Zhang, K. J. Arnold, Sapam Ranjita Chanu +3 more

Branching fractions for decays from the ${P}_{3/2}$ level in $^{138}\mathrm{Ba}^{+}$ have been measured with a single laser-cooled ion. Decay probabilities to ${S}_{1/2}$ , ${D}_{3/2}$ , and ${D}_{5/2}$ are determined to be 0.741716(71), 0.028031(23), and 0.230253(61), respectively, which are an order-of-magnitude improvement over previous results. Our methodology only involves optical pumping and state detection, and is hence relatively free of systematic effects. Measurements are carried out in two different ways to check for consistency. Our analysis also includes a measurement of the ${D}_{5/2}$ lifetime, for which we obtain 30.14(40) s.Branching fractions for decays from the ${P}_{3/2}$ level in $^{138}\mathrm{Ba}^{+}$ have been measured with a single laser-cooled ion. Decay probabilities to ${S}_{1/2}$, ${D}_{3/2}$, and ${D}_{5/2}$ are determined to be 0.741716(71), 0.028031(23), and 0.230253(61), respectively, which are an order-of-magnitude improvement over previous results. Our methodology only involves optical pumping and state detection, and is hence relatively free of systematic effects. Measurements are carried out in two different ways to check for consistency. Our analysis also includes a measurement of the ${D}_{5/2}$ lifetime, for which we obtain 30.14(40) s.

arXiv:2003.02263Physical Review AJun 24, 202016 citations

Lifetime of the 5d2D5/2 level of Ba+138 from quantum jumps with single and multiple Ba+ ions

Elwin Dijck, Amita Mohanty, Nivedya Valappol +3 more

The lifetime of the long-lived $5d{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ level in $^{138}\mathrm{Ba}^{+}$ ions was measured in trapped single ions and small ion crystals using continuous quantum jump spectroscopy. We find ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{{D}_{5/2}}=25.6(0.5)\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\text{s}$, significantly below previously reported values. We have verified our result by exploiting camera images of the stored ions, which enabled monitoring the cleanliness and sufficiently low temperature of the ion samples, and investigating common systematic effects.The lifetime of the long-lived $5d{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ level in $^{138}\mathrm{Ba}^{+}$ ions was measured in trapped single ions and small ion crystals using continuous quantum jump spectroscopy. We find ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{{D}_{5/2}}=25.6(0.5)\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\text{s}$, significantly below previously reported values. We have verified our result by exploiting camera images of the stored ions, which enabled monitoring the cleanliness and sufficiently low temperature of the ion samples, and investigating common systematic effects.

Physical Review AMar 14, 201810 citations

Lifetime measurement of the cesium 5D5/22 state

Sebastian Pucher, Philipp Schneeweiß, Arno Rauschenbeutel +1 more

We measure the lifetime of the cesium $5^{2}D_{5/2}$ state using a time-resolved single-photon-counting method. We excite atoms in a hot vapor cell via an electric quadrupole transition at a wavelength of 685 nm and record the fluorescence of a cascade decay at a wavelength of 852 nm. We extract a lifetime of $1353(5)$ ns for the $5{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ state, in agreement with a recent theoretical prediction. In particular, the observed lifetime is consistent with the literature values of the polarizabilities of the cesium $6P$ states. Our measurement contributes to resolving a long-standing disagreement between a number of experimental and theoretical results.We measure the lifetime of the cesium $5^{2}D_{5/2}$ state using a time-resolved single-photon-counting method. We excite atoms in a hot vapor cell via an electric quadrupole transition at a wavelength of 685 nm and record the fluorescence of a cascade decay at a wavelength of 852 nm. We extract a lifetime of $1353(5)$ ns for the $5{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ state, in agreement with a recent theoretical prediction. In particular, the observed lifetime is consistent with the literature values of the polarizabilities of the cesium $6P$ states. Our measurement contributes to resolving a long-standing disagreement between a number of experimental and theoretical results.

arXiv:1912.10089Physical Review AApr 27, 202018 citations

Measurement of the branching ratio in the 6P3∕2 decay of BaII with a single trapped ion

Nathan Kurz, Matthew Dietrich, Gang Shu +4 more

We present a measurement of the branching ratios from the $6{P}_{3∕2}$ state of $\mathrm{Ba}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\mathrm{II}$ into all dipole-allowed decay channels ( $6{S}_{1∕2}$ , $5{D}_{3∕2}$ , and $5{D}_{5∕2}$ ). Measurements were performed on single $^{138}{\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$ ions in a linear Paul trap with a frequency-doubled mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser resonant with the $6{S}_{1∕2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}6{P}_{3∕2}$ transition at $455\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ by detection of electron shelving into the dark $5{D}_{5∕2}$ state. By driving a $\ensuremath{\pi}$ Rabi rotation with a single femtosecond pulse, an absolute measurement of the branching ratio to $5{D}_{5∕2}$ state was performed. Combined with a measurement of the relative decay rates into $5{D}_{3∕2}$ and $5{D}_{5∕2}$ states performed with long trains of highly attenuated $455\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ pulses, it allowed the extraction of the absolute ratios of the other two decays. Relative strengths normalized to unity are found to be $0.756\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.046$, $0.0290\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0015$, and $0.215\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0064$ for $6{S}_{1∕2}$ , $5{D}_{3∕2}$ , and $5{D}_{5∕2}$ , respectively. This approximately constitutes a threefold improvement over the best previous measurements and is a sufficient level of precision to compare to calculated values for dipole matrix elements.We present a measurement of the branching ratios from the $6{P}_{3∕2}$ state of $\mathrm{Ba}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\mathrm{II}$ into all dipole-allowed decay channels ($6{S}_{1∕2}$, $5{D}_{3∕2}$, and $5{D}_{5∕2}$). Measurements were performed on single $^{138}{\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$ ions in a linear Paul trap with a frequency-doubled mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser resonant with the $6{S}_{1∕2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}6{P}_{3∕2}$ transition at $455\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ by detection of electron shelving into the dark $5{D}_{5∕2}$ state. By driving a $\ensuremath{\pi}$ Rabi rotation with a single femtosecond pulse, an absolute measurement of the branching ratio to $5{D}_{5∕2}$ state was performed. Combined with a measurement of the relative decay rates into $5{D}_{3∕2}$ and $5{D}_{5∕2}$ states performed with long trains of highly attenuated $455\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ pulses, it allowed the extraction of the absolute ratios of the other two decays. Relative strengths normalized to unity are found to be $0.756\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.046$, $0.0290\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0015$, and $0.215\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0064$ for $6{S}_{1∕2}$, $5{D}_{3∕2}$, and $5{D}_{5∕2}$, respectively. This approximately constitutes a threefold improvement over the best previous measurements and is a sufficient level of precision to compare to calculated values for dipole matrix elements.

arXiv:0804.4173Physical Review AJun 18, 200840 citations

Quantum jumps and the single trapped barium ion: Determination of collisional quenching rates for the 5 d2 D5/2 level

Alan A. Madej, J. D. Sankey

A single ${\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$ atom was confined in a radio-frequency ion trap and cooled by near-resonant laser light. Quantum jumps into and out of the metastable 5d $^{2}D_{5/2}$ level were observed that followed the expected exponential distribution in dark periods to good agreement. Measurement of quantum-jump distributions together with careful measurements of the absolute partial pressures of all residual gas species enabled accurate measurements of the quenched 5d $^{2}D_{5/2}$ lifetime as a function of quenching gas pressure. Measurements of quenching were observed at pressures where the mean collision rate was on the order of 1 ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. The results yielded quenching rate constants for the metastable level for a series of gases that typically make up the residual gas environment of ultra-high-vacuum systems ( ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ , He, ${\mathrm{CH}}_{4}$ , ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ O, CO, ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ , Ar, and ${\mathrm{CO}}_{2}$ ) together with an improved value of the ${5}^{2}$ ${\mathrm{D}}_{5/2}$ radiative lifetime of ${t}_{0}$ =34.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.5 s. The above quenching rate constants were then compared with classical ion-molecule collision theory. It was found that the quenching rates for molecular gases were comparable to the classical collision rates, while the rates for atomic gases were considerably lower.A single ${\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$ atom was confined in a radio-frequency ion trap and cooled by near-resonant laser light. Quantum jumps into and out of the metastable 5d $^{2}D_{5/2}$ level were observed that followed the expected exponential distribution in dark periods to good agreement. Measurement of quantum-jump distributions together with careful measurements of the absolute partial pressures of all residual gas species enabled accurate measurements of the quenched 5d $^{2}D_{5/2}$ lifetime as a function of quenching gas pressure. Measurements of quenching were observed at pressures where the mean collision rate was on the order of 1 ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. The results yielded quenching rate constants for the metastable level for a series of gases that typically make up the residual gas environment of ultra-high-vacuum systems (${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, He, ${\mathrm{CH}}_{4}$, ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$O, CO, ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$, Ar, and ${\mathrm{CO}}_{2}$) together with an improved value of the ${5}^{2}$${\mathrm{D}}_{5/2}$ radiative lifetime of ${t}_{0}$=34.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.5 s. The above quenching rate constants were then compared with classical ion-molecule collision theory. It was found that the quenching rates for molecular gases were comparable to the classical collision rates, while the rates for atomic gases were considerably lower.

Physical Review AMar 1, 199075 citations

Lifetime measurement of the metastable 4dD5∕22 state in Sr+88 using a single trapped ion

V. Letchumanan, M. A. Wilson, Patrick Robert Gill +1 more

The natural lifetime of the metastable $4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ state in $^{88}\mathrm{Sr}^{+}$ has been measured using a single laser-cooled, trapped ion. The ion was prepared in the $4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ state by laser excitation of the $5s\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}S_{1∕2}\ensuremath{-}4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ quadrupole transition at 674 nm. The decay time was measured by using Dehmelt's electron shelving method to monitor the ion's electronic state. Two separate investigations were conducted under slightly different experimental conditions. 160 000 decay times from the $4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ state were observed in total, and two different methods for determining the statistical value of the measured lifetime have been compared. Systematic effects have also been estimated, and including these effects yields a value of $\ensuremath{\tau}=390.8(1.6)\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{ms}$ ($1\ensuremath{\sigma}$ uncertainty) for the natural lifetime.The natural lifetime of the metastable $4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ state in $^{88}\mathrm{Sr}^{+}$ has been measured using a single laser-cooled, trapped ion. The ion was prepared in the $4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ state by laser excitation of the $5s\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}S_{1∕2}\ensuremath{-}4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ quadrupole transition at 674 nm. The decay time was measured by using Dehmelt's electron shelving method to monitor the ion's electronic state. Two separate investigations were conducted under slightly different experimental conditions. 160 000 decay times from the $4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ state were observed in total, and two different methods for determining the statistical value of the measured lifetime have been compared. Systematic effects have also been estimated, and including these effects yields a value of $\ensuremath{\tau}=390.8(1.6)\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{ms}$ ($1\ensuremath{\sigma}$ uncertainty) for the natural lifetime.

Physical Review AJul 13, 200539 citations

We present a measurement of the branching fractions for decay from the long-lived

5{D}_{5/2}

level in

{^{138}\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}

. The branching fraction for decay into the

6{S}_{1/2}

ground state was found to be

0.846{(25)}_{\mathrm{stat}}{(4)}_{\mathrm{sys}}

. We also report an improved measurement of the

5{D}_{5/2}

lifetime,

{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{5{D}_{5/2}}=31.2(0.9)

s. Together these measurements provide an experimental determination of transition rates for decay out of the

5{D}_{5/2}

level. The low (

<7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}

Branching fractions for decays from the

{P}_{3/2}

level in

^{138}\mathrm{Ba}^{+}

have been measured with a single laser-cooled ion. Decay probabilities to

{S}_{1/2}

{D}_{3/2}

, and

{D}_{5/2}

are determined to be 0.741716(71), 0.028031(23), and 0.230253(61), respectively, which are an order-of-magnitude improvement over previous results. Our methodology only involves optical pumping and state detection, and is hence relatively free of systematic effects. Measurements are carried out in two different ways to check for consistency. Our analysis also includes a measurement of the

{D}_{5/2}

lifetime, for which we obtain 30.14(40) s.

The lifetime of the long-lived

5d{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}

level in

^{138}\mathrm{Ba}^{+}

ions was measured in trapped single ions and small ion crystals using continuous quantum jump spectroscopy. We find ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{{D}_{5/2}}=25.6(0.5)\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\text{s}$, significantly below previously reported values. We have verified our result by exploiting camera images of the stored ions, which enabled monitoring the cleanliness and sufficiently low temperature of the ion samples, and investigating common systematic effects.

We measure the lifetime of the cesium

5^{2}D_{5/2}

state using a time-resolved single-photon-counting method. We excite atoms in a hot vapor cell via an electric quadrupole transition at a wavelength of 685 nm and record the fluorescence of a cascade decay at a wavelength of 852 nm. We extract a lifetime of

1353(5)

ns for the

5{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}

state, in agreement with a recent theoretical prediction. In particular, the observed lifetime is consistent with the literature values of the polarizabilities of the cesium

6P

states. Our measurement contributes to resolving a long-standing disagreement between a number of experimental and theoretical results.

We present a measurement of the branching ratios from the

6{P}_{3∕2}

state of

\mathrm{Ba}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\mathrm{II}

into all dipole-allowed decay channels (

6{S}_{1∕2}

5{D}_{3∕2}

, and

5{D}_{5∕2}

). Measurements were performed on single

^{138}{\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}

ions in a linear Paul trap with a frequency-doubled mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser resonant with the $6{S}_{1∕2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}6{P}_{3∕2}$ transition at

455\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}

by detection of electron shelving into the dark

5{D}_{5∕2}

state. By driving a $\ensuremath{\pi}$ Rabi rotation with a single femtosecond pulse, an absolute measurement of the branching ratio to

5{D}_{5∕2}

state was performed. Combined with a measurement of the relative decay rates into

5{D}_{3∕2}

and

5{D}_{5∕2}

states performed with long trains of highly attenuated

455\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}

pulses, it allowed the extraction of the absolute ratios of the other two decays. Relative strengths normalized to unity are found to be $0.756\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.046$, $0.0290\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0015$, and $0.215\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0064$ for

6{S}_{1∕2}

5{D}_{3∕2}

, and

5{D}_{5∕2}

, respectively. This approximately constitutes a threefold improvement over the best previous measurements and is a sufficient level of precision to compare to calculated values for dipole matrix elements.

A single

{\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}

atom was confined in a radio-frequency ion trap and cooled by near-resonant laser light. Quantum jumps into and out of the metastable 5d

^{2}D_{5/2}

level were observed that followed the expected exponential distribution in dark periods to good agreement. Measurement of quantum-jump distributions together with careful measurements of the absolute partial pressures of all residual gas species enabled accurate measurements of the quenched 5d

^{2}D_{5/2}

lifetime as a function of quenching gas pressure. Measurements of quenching were observed at pressures where the mean collision rate was on the order of 1 ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. The results yielded quenching rate constants for the metastable level for a series of gases that typically make up the residual gas environment of ultra-high-vacuum systems (

{\mathrm{H}}_{2}

, He,

{\mathrm{CH}}_{4}

{\mathrm{H}}_{2}

O, CO,

{\mathrm{N}}_{2}

, Ar, and

{\mathrm{CO}}_{2}

) together with an improved value of the

{5}^{2}

{\mathrm{D}}_{5/2}

radiative lifetime of

{t}_{0}

=34.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.5 s. The above quenching rate constants were then compared with classical ion-molecule collision theory. It was found that the quenching rates for molecular gases were comparable to the classical collision rates, while the rates for atomic gases were considerably lower.

The natural lifetime of the metastable

4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}

state in

^{88}\mathrm{Sr}^{+}

has been measured using a single laser-cooled, trapped ion. The ion was prepared in the

4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}

state by laser excitation of the $5s\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}S_{1∕2}\ensuremath{-}4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ quadrupole transition at 674 nm. The decay time was measured by using Dehmelt's electron shelving method to monitor the ion's electronic state. Two separate investigations were conducted under slightly different experimental conditions. 160 000 decay times from the

4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}

state were observed in total, and two different methods for determining the statistical value of the measured lifetime have been compared. Systematic effects have also been estimated, and including these effects yields a value of $\ensuremath{\tau}=390.8(1.6)\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{ms}$ ($1\ensuremath{\sigma}$ uncertainty) for the natural lifetime.