Laser frequency stabilization to a single ion
E. Peik, T. Schneider, Chr. Tamm
A fundamental limit to the stability of a single-ion optical frequency standard is set by quantum noise in the measurement of the internal state of the ion. We discuss how the interrogation sequence and the processing of the atomic resonance signal can be optimized in order to obtain the highest possible stability under realistic experimental conditions. A servo algorithm is presented that stabilizes a laser frequency to the single-ion signal and that eliminates errors due to laser frequency drift. Numerical simulations of the servo characteristics are compared to experimental data from a frequency comparison of two single-ion standards based on a transition at 688 THz in 171 Yb + . Experimentally, an instability σ y (100 s) = 9 × 10 −16 is obtained in the frequency difference between both standards.
arXiv:physics/0511168•Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Dec 7, 2005•125 citations