arXiv:1905.04976 · Physical Review A
Polarizability assessments of ion-based optical clocks
M. D. Barrett, K. J. Arnold, Marianna S. Safronova
Abstract
It is shown that the dynamic differential scalar polarizability of the ${S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{-}{D}_{5/2}$ transition in $^{138}\mathrm{Ba}^{+}$ can be determined to an inaccuracy below $0.5%$ across a wide wavelength range ($\ensuremath{\lambda}>700\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$). This can be achieved using measurements for which accurate determination of laser intensity is not required, and most of the required measurements are already in the literature. Measurement of a laser-induced ac-Stark shift of the clock transition would then provide an in situ measurement of the laser's intensity to the same $0.5%$ level of inaccuracy, which is not easily achieved by other means. This would allow accurate polarizability measurements for clock transitions in other ions, through comparison with $^{138}\mathrm{Ba}^{+}$. The approach would be equally applicable to ${\mathrm{Sr}}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{+}$, with the latter being immediately applicable to ${\mathrm{Al}}^{+}/{\mathrm{Ca}}^{+}$ quantum logic clocks.