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Laser cooling of a single Hg II ion

Randall G. Hulet, Jim Bergquist, Wayne M. Itano, David J. Wineland, Daniel J. Larson

Published Jun 9, 1986• 0 citations
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Abstract

Singly ionized mercury ions have been stored in a miniature rf (Paul) quadruple ion trap and observed by means of resonance fluorescence. The trap electrode spacings (~0.5 mm) and rf voltage (~500 V at 20 MHz) were chosen1 so that the Lamb-Dicke criterion could be satisfied for optical transitions on a single-laser-cooled ion. The presence of a single ion was determined by a statistical loading method2; that is, the loading conditions were scaled down to a point where only occasionally would any fluorescence be observed after a loading cycle. With high probability, this fluorescence was due to a single ion. The fluorescence observed was due to spontaneous scattering from a 194-nm cw source (~3-μW power focused to a beam waist of ~20 μm) directed at the ion and tuned near the strongly allowed first resonance line.

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We demonstrate laser cooling of single174Yb+ions stored in a rf trap. Single174Yb+ions were loaded using a natural isotope mixture as source. To locate a single ion at the center of the trap, and consequently, to minimize the micromotion caused by the rf driving field, we introduced two compensation electrodes and applied dc voltages to them and to one of the endcap electrodes. We estimated the temperature of a trapped single174Yb+ion to be 150 mK from the residual Doppler width of the spectra observed by a frequency sweep of the cooling laser. In the estimation, the saturation broadening in the spectra was substituted by measurement of the power dependence of the spectral width. To count the number of trapped174Yb+ions, we detected sudden drops in the fluorescence intensity (quantum jumps) of individual ions caused by pumping to and deexcitation of the2F7/2state. We found that deexcitation of the2F7/2state is possible by driving the2F7/2–1D[3/2]3/2transition at 760 nm and the2F7/2–3D[9/2]7/2transition at 828 nm, in addition to the former methods of driving the2F7/2–1D[5/2]5/2transition at 639 nm and the2F7/2–2D5/2transition at 3.43 µm.

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We present studies on monoisotopic Hg+ ions generation and trapping at room temperature. An ultraviolet laser system, including a frequency-controlled 194 nm laser and a 254 nm laser, is constructed. Mercury atoms are isotope-selectively excited by the 254 nm laser. The spectrum of the 6s2–6s6p transition lines for natural mercury isotopes is measured, and the uncertainty is less than 100 MHz. Then, the selected mercury isotopes are ionized by the 194 nm laser and trapped in a linear Paul trap. The fluorescence of the ion crystal at 194 nm is detected, and the temperature of the ions is estimated to be less than 10 mK.

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A single Hg+ ion that is confined in an rf (Paul) trap can be laser cooled so that the amplitude of its motion is much less than an optical wavelength (the Dicke limit for optical transitions).1 More recently, we used the technique of sideband cooling to reach the zero point of motion.2 This realizes for the first time, we believe, the fundamental limit of laser cooling and the ideal of an isolated atomic particle at rest in free space to within the quantum mechanical limits imposed by the surrounding apparatus. In both limits, Doppler effects to all orders become negligible, the interrogation time is arbitrarily long, and the fundamental shot noise limit of a single atom is readily attained. We report these results and our progress toward the 2S1/2—2D5/2 282-nm transition with a resolution approaching the 2-Hz natural linewidth.

Annual Meeting Optical Society of America•Jan 1, 1988•0 citations

Towards an optical frequency standard based on a single Ca/sup +/ ion in a miniature trap

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Summary form only given. Among the ions proposed for a frequency standard in the optical domain, Ca/sup +/ is one of the most favorable candidates due to its wavelengths accessible with all-solid-state laser systems. This allows to imagine an ultimate experimental setup being simple and compact. The 4S/sub 1/2/-3D/sub 5/2/ electric quadrupole transition at 729 nm with a natural linewidth below 1 Hz serves as clock transition, while laser cooling on one of the resonance lines is carried out at 397 nm. To obtain the small spectral linewidths necessary for a frequency standard performance, it is essential to reduce the residual Doppler broadening caused by the RF heating in the Paul trap. The first-order Doppler broadening of a single ion can be eliminated in the Lamb-Dicke regime where the ion's amplitude of motion is inferior to the emitted wavelength. The main condition for the access of this frequency modulation regime is a high motional frequency of the trapped ion. This is more easily obtained in a low capacitance device and thus traps with reduced dimensions are required. We have set up a miniature ion trap of the Paul-Straubel-type. The stored ions are observed by a photomultiplier in the photon-counting mode as well as by an intensified CCD camera, permitting the visualization of their spatial behavior. Laser cooling of the Ca/sup +/ ions is carried out on the 4S/sub 1/2/-4P/sup 1/2/ resonance line at 397 nm. Progress on the characterization of the trapped single ion as well as on the generation of the involved wavelengths exclusively by solid-state lasers is reported.

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A single laser cooled ion in a radiofrequency trap can serve as the basis for a highly stable optical frequency standard. We present recent results of our work on single indium ions, using the /sup 1/S/sub 0/ to /sup 3/P/sub 0/ transition at 236.5 nm wave-length as the clock transition. This resonance has a linewidth of only 0.82 Hz where systematic shifts should be controllable on the mHz level. A single In/sup +/ ion is stored in a miniature Paul-Straubel trap and laser cooled to a temperature of about 100 /spl mu/K. The clock transition is excited using a frequency quadrupled Nd:YAG laser. A fractional resolution of 1.3/spl middot/10/sup -13/ has been achieved so far (linewidth of 170 Hz at 1267 THz). The absolute frequency of the clock transition clock transition has been measured with an uncertainty of 2/spl middot/10/sup -13/ using a frequency chain and a methane-stabilized HeNe laser as a reference, that was calibrated with a cesium clock.

Joint Conference of the European Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFCS)•Nov 13, 2002•3 citations
Singly ionized mercury ions have been stored in a miniature rf (Paul) quadruple ion trap and observed by means of resonance fluorescence. The trap electrode spacings (~0.5 mm) and rf voltage (~500 V at 20 MHz) were chosen1 so that the Lamb-Dicke criterion could be satisfied for optical transitions on a single-laser-cooled ion. The presence of a single ion was determined by a statistical loading method2; that is, the loading conditions were scaled down to a point where only occasionally would any fluorescence be observed after a loading cycle. With high probability, this fluorescence was due to a single ion. The fluorescence observed was due to spontaneous scattering from a 194-nm cw source (~3-μW power focused to a beam waist of ~20 μm) directed at the ion and tuned near the strongly allowed first resonance line.
We demonstrate laser cooling of single174Yb+ions stored in a rf trap. Single174Yb+ions were loaded using a natural isotope mixture as source. To locate a single ion at the center of the trap, and consequently, to minimize the micromotion caused by the rf driving field, we introduced two compensation electrodes and applied dc voltages to them and to one of the endcap electrodes. We estimated the temperature of a trapped single174Yb+ion to be 150 mK from the residual Doppler width of the spectra observed by a frequency sweep of the cooling laser. In the estimation, the saturation broadening in the spectra was substituted by measurement of the power dependence of the spectral width. To count the number of trapped174Yb+ions, we detected sudden drops in the fluorescence intensity (quantum jumps) of individual ions caused by pumping to and deexcitation of the2F7/2state. We found that deexcitation of the2F7/2state is possible by driving the2F7/2–1D[3/2]3/2transition at 760 nm and the2F7/2–3D[9/2]7/2transition at 828 nm, in addition to the former methods of driving the2F7/2–1D[5/2]5/2transition at 639 nm and the2F7/2–2D5/2transition at 3.43 µm.
We present studies on monoisotopic Hg+ ions generation and trapping at room temperature. An ultraviolet laser system, including a frequency-controlled 194 nm laser and a 254 nm laser, is constructed. Mercury atoms are isotope-selectively excited by the 254 nm laser. The spectrum of the 6s2–6s6p transition lines for natural mercury isotopes is measured, and the uncertainty is less than 100 MHz. Then, the selected mercury isotopes are ionized by the 194 nm laser and trapped in a linear Paul trap. The fluorescence of the ion crystal at 194 nm is detected, and the temperature of the ions is estimated to be less than 10 mK.
A single Hg+ ion that is confined in an rf (Paul) trap can be laser cooled so that the amplitude of its motion is much less than an optical wavelength (the Dicke limit for optical transitions).1 More recently, we used the technique of sideband cooling to reach the zero point of motion.2 This realizes for the first time, we believe, the fundamental limit of laser cooling and the ideal of an isolated atomic particle at rest in free space to within the quantum mechanical limits imposed by the surrounding apparatus. In both limits, Doppler effects to all orders become negligible, the interrogation time is arbitrarily long, and the fundamental shot noise limit of a single atom is readily attained. We report these results and our progress toward the 2S1/2—2D5/2 282-nm transition with a resolution approaching the 2-Hz natural linewidth.
Summary form only given. Among the ions proposed for a frequency standard in the optical domain, Ca/sup +/ is one of the most favorable candidates due to its wavelengths accessible with all-solid-state laser systems. This allows to imagine an ultimate experimental setup being simple and compact. The 4S/sub 1/2/-3D/sub 5/2/ electric quadrupole transition at 729 nm with a natural linewidth below 1 Hz serves as clock transition, while laser cooling on one of the resonance lines is carried out at 397 nm. To obtain the small spectral linewidths necessary for a frequency standard performance, it is essential to reduce the residual Doppler broadening caused by the RF heating in the Paul trap. The first-order Doppler broadening of a single ion can be eliminated in the Lamb-Dicke regime where the ion's amplitude of motion is inferior to the emitted wavelength. The main condition for the access of this frequency modulation regime is a high motional frequency of the trapped ion. This is more easily obtained in a low capacitance device and thus traps with reduced dimensions are required. We have set up a miniature ion trap of the Paul-Straubel-type. The stored ions are observed by a photomultiplier in the photon-counting mode as well as by an intensified CCD camera, permitting the visualization of their spatial behavior. Laser cooling of the Ca/sup +/ ions is carried out on the 4S/sub 1/2/-4P/sup 1/2/ resonance line at 397 nm. Progress on the characterization of the trapped single ion as well as on the generation of the involved wavelengths exclusively by solid-state lasers is reported.
A single laser cooled ion in a radiofrequency trap can serve as the basis for a highly stable optical frequency standard. We present recent results of our work on single indium ions, using the /sup 1/S/sub 0/ to /sup 3/P/sub 0/ transition at 236.5 nm wave-length as the clock transition. This resonance has a linewidth of only 0.82 Hz where systematic shifts should be controllable on the mHz level. A single In/sup +/ ion is stored in a miniature Paul-Straubel trap and laser cooled to a temperature of about 100 /spl mu/K. The clock transition is excited using a frequency quadrupled Nd:YAG laser. A fractional resolution of 1.3/spl middot/10/sup -13/ has been achieved so far (linewidth of 170 Hz at 1267 THz). The absolute frequency of the clock transition clock transition has been measured with an uncertainty of 2/spl middot/10/sup -13/ using a frequency chain and a methane-stabilized HeNe laser as a reference, that was calibrated with a cesium clock.