Hyperfine quenching rates of the lowest-energy metastable $^{3}P_{0}$ and $^{3}P_{2}$ states of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Yb atoms are computed. The calculations are carried out using ab initio relativistic many-body methods. The computed lifetimes may be useful for designing novel ultraprecise optical clocks and trapping experiments with the $^{3}P_{2}$ fermionic isotopes. The resulting natural widths of the $^{3}P_{0}\ensuremath{-}^{1}S_{0}$ clock transition are $0.44\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{mHz}$ for $^{25}\mathrm{Mg}$ , $2.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{mHz}$ for $^{43}\mathrm{Ca}$ , $7.6\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{mHz}$ for $^{87}\mathrm{Sr}$ , $43.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{mHz}$ for $^{171}\mathrm{Yb}$ , and $38.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{mHz}$ for $^{173}\mathrm{Yb}$ . Compared to the bosonic isotopes, the lifetime of the $^{3}P_{2}$ states in fermionic isotopes is noticeably shortened by the hyperfine quenching but still remains long enough for trapping experiments.Hyperfine quenching rates of the lowest-energy metastable $^{3}P_{0}$ and $^{3}P_{2}$ states of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Yb atoms are computed. The calculations are carried out using ab initio relativistic many-body methods. The computed lifetimes may be useful for designing novel ultraprecise optical clocks and trapping experiments with the $^{3}P_{2}$ fermionic isotopes. The resulting natural widths of the $^{3}P_{0}\ensuremath{-}^{1}S_{0}$ clock transition are $0.44\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{mHz}$ for $^{25}\mathrm{Mg}$, $2.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{mHz}$ for $^{43}\mathrm{Ca}$, $7.6\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{mHz}$ for $^{87}\mathrm{Sr}$, $43.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{mHz}$ for $^{171}\mathrm{Yb}$, and $38.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{mHz}$ for $^{173}\mathrm{Yb}$. Compared to the bosonic isotopes, the lifetime of the $^{3}P_{2}$ states in fermionic isotopes is noticeably shortened by the hyperfine quenching but still remains long enough for trapping experiments.

arXiv:physics/0312006Physical Review AApr 7, 2004117 citations

Slow metastable atomic hydrogen beam by optical pumping

Kenneth C. Harvey

A beam source of atomic hydrogen is described which produces metastable atoms in the 2S1/2 state by optical pumping. A beam flux of 1016 atoms/s is generated in the ground state. The atoms in the beam pass in front of a lamp producing Lyman-β (1026 Å) radiation, where some of them are excited to the 3P level and cascade with a branching ratio of 12% to the 2S1/2 state. The number of metastable atoms produced is measured by quenching them with an electric field and detecting the emitted Lyman-α (1216 Å) radiation. Beams of 106 metastable atoms/s were obtained. Using the Bethe-Lamb theory for the quenching process, a metastable beam effective temperature of 100 K was measured.A beam source of atomic hydrogen is described which produces metastable atoms in the 2S1/2 state by optical pumping. A beam flux of 1016 atoms/s is generated in the ground state. The atoms in the beam pass in front of a lamp producing Lyman-β (1026 Å) radiation, where some of them are excited to the 3P level and cascade with a branching ratio of 12% to the 2S1/2 state. The number of metastable atoms produced is measured by quenching them with an electric field and detecting the emitted Lyman-α (1216 Å) radiation. Beams of 106 metastable atoms/s were obtained. Using the Bethe-Lamb theory for the quenching process, a metastable beam effective temperature of 100 K was measured.

Journal of Applied PhysicsMay 1, 198217 citations

Quenching studies of Xe(3P2) metastable atoms

Jose E. Velazco, Donald W. Setser

IEEE Journal of Quantum ElectronicsAug 1, 197526 citations

Hyperfine quenching rates of the lowest-energy metastable

^{3}P_{0}

and

^{3}P_{2}

states of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Yb atoms are computed. The calculations are carried out using ab initio relativistic many-body methods. The computed lifetimes may be useful for designing novel ultraprecise optical clocks and trapping experiments with the

^{3}P_{2}

fermionic isotopes. The resulting natural widths of the $^{3}P_{0}\ensuremath{-}^{1}S_{0}$ clock transition are

0.44\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{mHz}

for

^{25}\mathrm{Mg}

2.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{mHz}

for

^{43}\mathrm{Ca}

7.6\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{mHz}

for

^{87}\mathrm{Sr}

43.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{mHz}

for

^{171}\mathrm{Yb}

, and

38.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{mHz}

for

^{173}\mathrm{Yb}

. Compared to the bosonic isotopes, the lifetime of the

^{3}P_{2}

states in fermionic isotopes is noticeably shortened by the hyperfine quenching but still remains long enough for trapping experiments.