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arXiv:1910.06351 · Physical Review A

Measurements of electric quadrupole transition frequencies in Ra+226

C. A. Holliman, Mingyu Fan, Andrew M. Jayich

Published Dec 19, 2019• 9 citations
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Abstract

We report the first driving of the $7s{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}6d{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{3/2}$ and $7s{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}6d{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ electric quadrupole (E2) transitions in ${\mathrm{Ra}}^{+}$. We measure the frequencies of both E2 transitions and two other low-lying transitions in $^{226}\mathrm{Ra}^{+}$ that are important for controlling the radium ion's motional and internal states: $6d{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{3/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}7p{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{P}_{3/2}^{o}$ and $6d{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}7p{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{P}_{3/2}^{o}$.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.100.062512

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We report the first driving of the 7s2S1/2\ensuremath→6d2D3/27s{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}6d{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{3/2}7s2S1/2​\ensuremath→6d2D3/2​ and 7s2S1/2\ensuremath→6d2D5/27s{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}6d{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}7s2S1/2​\ensuremath→6d2D5/2​ electric quadrupole (E2) transitions in Ra+{\mathrm{Ra}}^{+}Ra+. We measure the frequencies of both E2 transitions and two other low-lying transitions in 226Ra+^{226}\mathrm{Ra}^{+}226Ra+ that are important for controlling the radium ion's motional and internal states: 6d2D3/2\ensuremath→7p2P3/2o6d{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{3/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}7p{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{P}_{3/2}^{o}6d2D3/2​\ensuremath→7p2P3/2o​ and 6d2D5/2\ensuremath→7p2P3/2o6d{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}7p{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{P}_{3/2}^{o}6d2D5/2​\ensuremath→7p2P3/2o​.
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We report a measurement of the radium ion's 7p2P3/27p\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}^{2}P_{3/2}7p2P3/2​ state branching fractions and improved theoretical calculations. With a single laser-cooled 226Ra+{}^{226}{\mathrm{Ra}}^{+}226Ra+ ion we measure the P3/2{P}_{3/2}P3/2​ branching fractions to the 7s2S1/27s\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}^{2}S_{1/2}7s2S1/2​ ground state 0.87678(20)0.876\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}78(20)0.87678(20), the 6d2D5/26d\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5/2}6d2D5/2​ state 0.10759(10)0.107\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}59(10)0.10759(10), and the 6d2D3/26d\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}6d2D3/2​ state 0.01563(21)0.015\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}63(21)0.01563(21).
We explore the potential of the electric quadrupole transitions 7s2S1/27s {}^{2}{S}_{1/2}7s2S1/2​-6d2D3/26d {}^{2}{D}_{3/2}6d2D3/2​, 6d2D5/26d {}^{2}{D}_{5/2}6d2D5/2​ in radium isotopes as single-ion optical frequency standards. The frequency shifts of the clock transitions due to external fields and the corresponding uncertainties are calculated. Several competitive A{}^{A}ARa+{}^{+}+ candidates, with A=A=A= 223--229, are identified. In particular, we show that the transition 7s2S1/2(F=2,mF=0)7s {}^{2}{S}_{1/2} (F=2,{m}_{F}=0)7s2S1/2​(F=2,mF​=0)-6d2D3/2(F=0,mF=0)6d {}^{2}{D}_{3/2} (F=0,{m}_{F}=0)6d2D3/2​(F=0,mF​=0) at 828 nm in 223Ra^{223}\mathrm{Ra}223Ra+{}^{+}+, with no linear Zeeman and electric quadrupole shifts, stands out as a relatively simple case, which could be exploited as a compact, robust, and low-cost atomic clock operating at a fractional frequency uncertainty of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}17}$. With more experimental effort, the 223,225,226Ra^{223,225,226}\mathrm{Ra}223,225,226Ra+{}^{+}+ clocks could be pushed to a projected performance reaching the ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}18}$ level.
We report the first operation of a Ra+{\mathrm{Ra}}^{+}Ra+ optical clock, a promising high-performance clock candidate. The clock uses a single trapped 226Ra+^{226}{\mathrm{Ra}}^{+}226Ra+ ion and operates on the $7s\text{ }^{2}{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}6d\text{ }^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ electric quadrupole transition. By self-referencing three pairs of symmetric Zeeman transitions, we demonstrate a frequency instability of $1.1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}/\sqrt{\ensuremath{\tau}}$, where $\ensuremath{\tau}$ is the averaging time in seconds. The total systematic uncertainty is evaluated to be $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}\ensuremath{\nu}/\ensuremath{\nu}=9\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$. Using the clock, we realize the first measurement of the ratio of the D5/2{D}_{5/2}D5/2​ state to the S1/2{S}_{1/2}S1/2​ state Land\'e ggg-factors: gD/gS=0.598 805 3(11){g}_{D}/{g}_{S}=0.598\text{ }805\text{ }3(11)gD​/gS​=0.598 805 3(11). A Ra+{\mathrm{Ra}}^{+}Ra+ optical clock could improve limits on the time variation of the fine structure constant, $\stackrel{\ifmmode \dot{}\else \textperiodcentered \fi{}}{\ensuremath{\alpha}}/\ensuremath{\alpha}$, in an optical frequency comparison. The ion also has several features that make it a suitable system for a transportable optical clock.
We explore the potential of the electric quadrupole transitions 7s 2S1/27s\,^2S_{1/2}7s2S1/2​ - 6d 2D3/26d\,^2D_{3/2}6d2D3/2​, 6d 2D5/26d\,^2D_{5/2}6d2D5/2​ in radium isotopes as single-ion optical frequency standards. The frequency shifts of the clock transitions due to external fields and the corresponding uncertainties are calculated. Several competitive A^AARa+^++ candidates with A=A=A= 223 - 229 are identified. In particular, we show that the transition 7s 2S1/2 (F=2,mF=0)7s\,^2S_{1/2}\,(F=2,m_F=0)7s2S1/2​(F=2,mF​=0) - 6d 2D3/2 (F=0,mF=0)6d\,^2D_{3/2}\,(F=0,m_F=0)6d2D3/2​(F=0,mF​=0) at 828 nm in 223^{223}223Ra+^++, with no linear Zeeman and electric quadrupole shifts, stands out as a relatively simple case, which could be exploited as a compact, robust, and low-cost atomic clock operating at a fractional frequency uncertainty of 10−1710^{-17}10−17. With more experimental effort, the 223,225,226^{223,225,226}223,225,226Ra+^++ clocks could be pushed to a projected performance reaching the 10−1810^{-18}10−18 level.
The electric dipole-forbidden, quadrupole $6{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}5{D}_{3/2}$ transition in Ba+{}^{+}+ near 2051 nm, with a natural linewidth of 13 mHz, is attractive for potential observation of parity nonconservation, and also as a clock transition for a barium ion optical frequency standard. This transition also offers a direct means of populating the metastable 5D3/25{D}_{3/2}5D3/2​ state to measure the nuclear magnetic octupole moment in the odd barium isotopes. Light from a diode-pumped, solid-state Tm,Ho:YLF laser operating at 2051 nm is used to coherently drive this transition between resolved Zeeman levels in a single trapped 138{}^{138}138Ba+{}^{+}+ ion. The frequency of the laser is stabilized to a high-finesse Fabry-P\'erot cavity at 1025 nm after being frequency doubled. Rabi oscillations on this transition indicate a laser-ion coherence time of 3 ms, most likely limited by ambient magnetic field fluctuations.