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arXiv:1603.09277 · Atoms

Obtaining Atomic Matrix Elements from Vector Tune-Out Wavelengths Using Atom Interferometry

Adam Fallon, Charles A. Sackett

Published Mar 30, 2016• 12 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Accurate values for atomic dipole matrix elements are useful in many areas of physics, and in particular for interpreting experiments such as atomic parity violation. Obtaining accurate matrix element values is a challenge for both experiment and theory. A new technique that can be applied to this problem is tune-out spectroscopy, which is the measurement of light wavelengths where the electric polarizability of an atom has a zero. Using atom interferometry methods, tune-out wavelengths can be measured very accurately. Their values depend on the ratios of various dipole matrix elements and are thus useful for constraining theory and broadening the application of experimental values. To date, tune-out wavelength measurements have focused on zeros of the scalar polarizability, but in general the vector polarizability also contributes. We show here that combined measurements of the vector and scalar polarizabilities can provide more detailed information about the matrix element ratios, and in particular can distinguish small contributions from the atomic core and the valence tail states. These small contributions are the leading error sources in current parity violation calculations for cesium.

DOI
10.3390/atoms4020012

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Accurate values for atomic dipole matrix elements are useful in many areas of physics, and in particular for interpreting experiments such as atomic parity violation. Obtaining accurate matrix element values is a challenge for both experiment and theory. A new technique that can be applied to this problem is tune-out spectroscopy, which is the measurement of light wavelengths where the electric polarizability of an atom has a zero. Using atom interferometry methods, tune-out wavelengths can be measured very accurately. Their values depend on the ratios of various dipole matrix elements and are thus useful for constraining theory and broadening the application of experimental values. To date, tune-out wavelength measurements have focused on zeros of the scalar polarizability, but in general the vector polarizability also contributes. We show here that combined measurements of the vector and scalar polarizabilities can provide more detailed information about the matrix element ratios, and in particular can distinguish small contributions from the atomic core and the valence tail states. These small contributions are the leading error sources in current parity violation calculations for cesium.
We report a precision measurement of a tune-out wavelength for 87Rb^{87}\mathrm{Rb}87Rb using circularly polarized light. A tune-out wavelength characterizes a zero in the electric polarizability of the atom. For circularly polarized light, the total polarizability depends on both the scalar and vector polarizability components. This shifts the location of the tune-out wavelength and makes it sensitive to different combinations of atomic dipole matrix elements than the scalar polarizability alone. Using ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{-}}$ polarized light with a purity of 0.9931(1), we observe a tune-out wavelength of 785.1522(3) nm, which agrees with theoretical expectations when small contributions from the core electrons and off-resonant valence states are taken into account.
The First Measurement of the 23S1→33P−23P2^{3}S_{1} \rightarrow 3^{3}P - 2^{3}P23S1​→33P−23P Tune-Out Wavelength in He*
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The First Measurement of the 23 ⁣S1−23 ⁣P/33 ⁣P2^{3\!}S_1 - 2^{3\!}P / 3^{3\!}P23S1​−23P/33P Tune-Out Wavelength in He*
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We have measured the ratio RRR of the vector ac Stark effect (or light shift) in the 6S1∕26{S}_{1∕2}6S1∕2​ and 5D3∕25{D}_{3∕2}5D3∕2​ states of a single trapped barium ion to 0.2% accuracy at two different off-resonant wavelengths. We earlier found $R={\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{S}∕{\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{D}=\ensuremath{-}11.494(13)$ at 514.531nm514.531\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}514.531nm where ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{S,D}$ are the vector light shifts of the 6S1∕26{S}_{1∕2}6S1∕2​ and 5D3∕25{D}_{3∕2}5D3∕2​ $m=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1∕2$ splittings due to circularly polarized light, and now we report the value at 1111.68nm1111.68\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}1111.68nm, R=+0.4176(8)R=+0.4176(8)R=+0.4176(8). These observations together yield a value of the $⟨5D\ensuremath{\Vert}er\ensuremath{\Vert}4F⟩$ matrix element. Also, comparison of our results with an ab initio calculation of dynamic polarizability would yield a test of atomic theory and improve the understanding of atomic structure needed to interpret a proposed atomic parity violation experiment.