Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review A

Measurement of the 2 S1/2 −2 D5/2 411-nm interval in laser-cooled trapped Yb+172 ions

Patrick Robert Gill, Hugh A. Klein, Andrew P. Levick, M. Roberts, W. R. C. Rowley, P. Taylor

Published Aug 1, 1995• 23 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The 4${\mathit{f}}^{14}$6s${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$--4${\mathit{f}}^{14}$5d${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{D}}_{5/2}$ 411-nm transition in $^{172}\mathrm{Yb}^{+}$ has been measured to be 729 476 868(11) MHz. The frequency was determined by probing a cold cloud of a few $^{172}\mathrm{Yb}^{+}$ ions held in a radio-frequency trap. The frequency measurement is part of a program to locate the 4${\mathit{f}}^{14}$6s${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$--4${\mathit{f}}^{13}$6${\mathit{s}}^{2}$${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{F}}_{7/2}$ 467-nm ultranarrow transition in laser-cooled ${\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}$. The 4${\mathit{f}}^{13}$6${\mathit{s}}^{2}$${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{F}}_{7/2}$--4${\mathit{f}}^{13}$5d6s${\mathrm{}}^{1}$D[K= 5/2${]}_{\mathit{J}=5/2}$ transition at 638 nm has been driven in order to depopulate the 4${\mathit{f}}^{13}$6${\mathit{s}}^{2}$${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{F}}_{7/2}$ state.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.52.r909

Related papers

Investigation of the 2 S 1 / 2 − 2 D 5 / 2 clock transition in a single ytterbium ion

P. Taylor, M. Roberts, S. Gateva +4 more

The suitability of the 411-nm ${}^{2}{S}_{1/2}{\ensuremath{-}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ transition in ${\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}$ is assessed as an optical frequency standard. The lifetime of the ${}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ level has been measured and found to be 7.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3 ms, which implies a natural linewidth of 22.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.9 Hz for the 411-nm transition. In addition to a decay to the ground state the ${}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ level can decay into the highly metastable ${}^{2}{F}_{7/2}$ level where it is trapped. The branching ratio for decay into the ${}^{2}{F}_{7/2}$ level has been measured and found to be 0.83\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03. A transition capable of rapidly depopulating the ${}^{2}{F}_{7/2}$ level and returning the ion to the cooling cycle has been demonstrated. This has enabled a quantum jump measurement of the 411-nm transition in ${}^{172}{\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}$ to be performed, yielding a center frequency of 729 476 869.13(0.42) MHz (1\ensuremath{\sigma}).

Physical Review A•Oct 1, 1997•70 citations

Precision Measurement of the2

A.S. Bell, Patrick Robert Gill, H. Arthur Klein +2 more

The 4f13 6s2 2F7/2–4f14 5d 2D5/2 3·43 μm infrared transition in 172Yb+ has been driven for the first time and measured to be 87 360 087(4) MHz. The frequency was determined by probing a cloud of 172Yb+ ions held in a radiofrequency trap in the presence of helium buffer gas. The infrared radiation was generated by difference frequency mixing in LiNbO3. The frequency measurement is part of a programme to locate the 4f14 6s 2S1/2–4f13 6s2 2F7/2 467 nm ultra-narrow transition in laser-cooled Yb+.

Journal of Modern Optics•Feb 1, 1992•37 citations

Sub-dekahertz Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of 199Hg+

Robert J. Rafac, Brent C. Young, James A. Beall +3 more

Using a laser that is frequency locked to a Fabry-P\'erot \'etalon of high finesse and stability, we probe the ${5d}^{10}6s^{2}S_{1/2}(F\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0)\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}{5d}^{9}{6s}^{2}^{2}D_{5/2}(F\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}2)$ $\ensuremath{\Delta}{m}_{F}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0$ electric-quadrupole transition of a single laser-cooled ${}^{199}{\mathrm{Hg}}^{+}$ ion stored in a cryogenic radio-frequency ion trap. We observe Fourier-transform limited linewidths as narrow as 6.7 Hz at 282 nm ( $1.06\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{15}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathrm{Hz}$), yielding a line $Q\ensuremath{\approx}1.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{14}$. We perform a preliminary measurement of the ${5d}^{9}{6s}^{2}^{2}D_{5/2}$ electric-quadrupole shift due to interaction with the static fields of the trap, and discuss the implications for future trapped-ion optical frequency standards.

arXiv:physics/0007002•Physical Review Letters•Sep 18, 2000•265 citations

Subkilohertz absolute-frequency measurement of the 467-nm electric octupole transition in 171Yb+

P. J. Blythe, Stephen A. Webster, Helen S. Margolis +6 more

The ${}^{2}{S}_{1/2}{(F=0)}^{2}{F}_{7/2}{(F=3,m}_{F}=0)$ transition at 467 nm in a single trapped, laser-cooled ion of ${}^{171}{\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}$ has been measured to be ${f}_{{\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}}=642121496771.26(23)\mathrm{kHz}$ using a femtosecond laser frequency comb generator. The measurement is limited by measurement statistics and by the ac Stark shift, both related to the 4.5 kHz linewidth of the probe laser at the time. The systematic shifts of the transition, including ac Stark, second-order Zeeman, quadrupole, and blackbody shifts, have been evaluated.

Physical Review A•Feb 10, 2003•39 citations

Measurement of the 2 S 1 / 2 − 2 D 5 / 2 clock transition in a single 171 Yb + ion

M. Roberts, P. Taylor, S. Gateva +3 more

Spectroscopy of the 411-nm transition in ${}^{171}{\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}$ has been performed and the feasibility of its use as an optical frequency standard has been demonstrated. The ${}^{2}{S}_{1/2}(F=0, {m}_{F}=0){--}^{2}{D}_{5/2}(F=2, {m}_{F}=0)$ frequency, at zero-magnetic field, has been measured to be 729 487 779 566(153) kHz. This transition is free from the first-order Zeeman shift and has a measured second-order shift of +0.38(8) Hz/(\ensuremath{\mu}${\mathrm{T})}^{2}$. In addition, the hyperfine structure of the ${}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ level has been deduced by driving the other hyperfine components of the 411-nm transition, showing it to be inverted. The ${}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ hyperfine splitting, measured to be -191(2) MHz, implies an A factor of -63.6(7) MHz. These data taken in conjunction with previous work yield an isotope shift of ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{171}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{172}=+1317.1(1.3)\mathrm{MHz}$ for this transition between the 171 and 172 isotopes.

Physical Review A•Oct 1, 1999•59 citations

High-Resolution Spectroscopy of $^{173}$Yb$^{+}$ Ions

J. Jiang, A. V. Viatkina, Saaswath JK +7 more

Compared to other stable isotopes of $\rm{Yb}^+$, $^{173}\rm{Yb}^+$ has a richer hyperfine structure, which leads to more favorable clock transitions, spectroscopic techniques for probing new physics, and more sophisticated quantum computing architectures. However, to date, its electronic spectrum remains poorly characterized. Here, we report on efficient laser cooling, state preparation, and detection of a single trapped $^{173}\rm{Yb}^+$ ion. The previously unobserved $^2\!S_{1/2} \rightarrow {}^2\!D_{3/2}$ electric quadrupole transition at 436 nm is coherently excited, and the isotope shift between $^{171}\rm{Yb}^+$ and $^{173}\rm{Yb}^+$ on this transition is determined with an uncertainty of 1.4 Hz. Using microwave spectroscopy, we resolve the hyperfine structure (HFS) of the ${}^2\!D_{3/2}$ state with a relative uncertainty below $10^{-8}$. From the HFS measurement data, we infer for ${}^{173}$Yb a nuclear magnetic octupole moment $Ω= -0.062(8)\,({\rm b} \times μ_N)$ with uncertainty reduced by more than 2 orders of magnitude compared to previous studies. The data also allow us to determine hyperfine anomalies for the ${}^2\!S_{1/2}$ and ${}^2\!D_{3/2}$ states.

physics.atom-phCross-listedarXiv:2601.09585•Physical Review Letters•Jan 15, 2026•1 citation
The 4f14{\mathit{f}}^{14}f146s{\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}--4f14{\mathit{f}}^{14}f145d{\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{D}}_{5/2} 411-nm transition in 172Yb+^{172}\mathrm{Yb}^{+}172Yb+ has been measured to be 729 476 868(11) MHz. The frequency was determined by probing a cold cloud of a few 172Yb+^{172}\mathrm{Yb}^{+}172Yb+ ions held in a radio-frequency trap. The frequency measurement is part of a program to locate the 4f14{\mathit{f}}^{14}f146s{\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}--4f13{\mathit{f}}^{13}f136{\mathit{s}}^{2}$${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{F}}_{7/2} 467-nm ultranarrow transition in laser-cooled Yb+{\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}Yb+. The 4f13{\mathit{f}}^{13}f136{\mathit{s}}^{2}$${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{F}}_{7/2}--4f13{\mathit{f}}^{13}f135d6s1{\mathrm{}}^{1}1D[K= 5/2]J=5/2{]}_{\mathit{J}=5/2}]J=5/2​ transition at 638 nm has been driven in order to depopulate the 4f13{\mathit{f}}^{13}f136{\mathit{s}}^{2}$${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{F}}_{7/2} state.
The suitability of the 411-nm ${}^{2}{S}_{1/2}{\ensuremath{-}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ transition in Yb+{\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}Yb+ is assessed as an optical frequency standard. The lifetime of the 2D5/2{}^{2}{D}_{5/2}2D5/2​ level has been measured and found to be 7.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3 ms, which implies a natural linewidth of 22.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.9 Hz for the 411-nm transition. In addition to a decay to the ground state the 2D5/2{}^{2}{D}_{5/2}2D5/2​ level can decay into the highly metastable 2F7/2{}^{2}{F}_{7/2}2F7/2​ level where it is trapped. The branching ratio for decay into the 2F7/2{}^{2}{F}_{7/2}2F7/2​ level has been measured and found to be 0.83\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03. A transition capable of rapidly depopulating the 2F7/2{}^{2}{F}_{7/2}2F7/2​ level and returning the ion to the cooling cycle has been demonstrated. This has enabled a quantum jump measurement of the 411-nm transition in 172Yb+{}^{172}{\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}172Yb+ to be performed, yielding a center frequency of 729 476 869.13(0.42) MHz (1\ensuremath{\sigma}).
The 4f13 6s2 2F7/2–4f14 5d 2D5/2 3·43 μm infrared transition in 172Yb+ has been driven for the first time and measured to be 87 360 087(4) MHz. The frequency was determined by probing a cloud of 172Yb+ ions held in a radiofrequency trap in the presence of helium buffer gas. The infrared radiation was generated by difference frequency mixing in LiNbO3. The frequency measurement is part of a programme to locate the 4f14 6s 2S1/2–4f13 6s2 2F7/2 467 nm ultra-narrow transition in laser-cooled Yb+.
Using a laser that is frequency locked to a Fabry-P\'erot \'etalon of high finesse and stability, we probe the ${5d}^{10}6s^{2}S_{1/2}(F\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0)\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}{5d}^{9}{6s}^{2}^{2}D_{5/2}(F\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}2)$ $\ensuremath{\Delta}{m}_{F}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0$ electric-quadrupole transition of a single laser-cooled 199Hg+{}^{199}{\mathrm{Hg}}^{+}199Hg+ ion stored in a cryogenic radio-frequency ion trap. We observe Fourier-transform limited linewidths as narrow as 6.7 Hz at 282 nm ( $1.06\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{15}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathrm{Hz}$), yielding a line $Q\ensuremath{\approx}1.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{14}$. We perform a preliminary measurement of the ${5d}^{9}{6s}^{2}^{2}D_{5/2}$ electric-quadrupole shift due to interaction with the static fields of the trap, and discuss the implications for future trapped-ion optical frequency standards.
The 2S1/2(F=0)2F7/2(F=3,mF=0){}^{2}{S}_{1/2}{(F=0)}^{2}{F}_{7/2}{(F=3,m}_{F}=0)2S1/2​(F=0)2F7/2​(F=3,mF​=0) transition at 467 nm in a single trapped, laser-cooled ion of 171Yb+{}^{171}{\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}171Yb+ has been measured to be fYb+=642121496771.26(23)kHz{f}_{{\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}}=642121496771.26(23)\mathrm{kHz}fYb+​=642121496771.26(23)kHz using a femtosecond laser frequency comb generator. The measurement is limited by measurement statistics and by the ac Stark shift, both related to the 4.5 kHz linewidth of the probe laser at the time. The systematic shifts of the transition, including ac Stark, second-order Zeeman, quadrupole, and blackbody shifts, have been evaluated.
Spectroscopy of the 411-nm transition in 171Yb+{}^{171}{\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}171Yb+ has been performed and the feasibility of its use as an optical frequency standard has been demonstrated. The 2S1/2(F=0,mF=0)−−2D5/2(F=2,mF=0){}^{2}{S}_{1/2}(F=0, {m}_{F}=0){--}^{2}{D}_{5/2}(F=2, {m}_{F}=0)2S1/2​(F=0,mF​=0)−−2D5/2​(F=2,mF​=0) frequency, at zero-magnetic field, has been measured to be 729 487 779 566(153) kHz. This transition is free from the first-order Zeeman shift and has a measured second-order shift of +0.38(8) Hz/(\ensuremath{\mu}T)2{\mathrm{T})}^{2}T)2. In addition, the hyperfine structure of the 2D5/2{}^{2}{D}_{5/2}2D5/2​ level has been deduced by driving the other hyperfine components of the 411-nm transition, showing it to be inverted. The 2D5/2{}^{2}{D}_{5/2}2D5/2​ hyperfine splitting, measured to be -191(2) MHz, implies an A factor of -63.6(7) MHz. These data taken in conjunction with previous work yield an isotope shift of ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{171}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{172}=+1317.1(1.3)\mathrm{MHz}$ for this transition between the 171 and 172 isotopes.
High-Resolution Spectroscopy of 173^{173}173Yb+^{+}+ Ions
Compared to other stable isotopes of Yb+\rm{Yb}^+Yb+, 173Yb+^{173}\rm{Yb}^+173Yb+ has a richer hyperfine structure, which leads to more favorable clock transitions, spectroscopic techniques for probing new physics, and more sophisticated quantum computing architectures. However, to date, its electronic spectrum remains poorly characterized. Here, we report on efficient laser cooling, state preparation, and detection of a single trapped 173Yb+^{173}\rm{Yb}^+173Yb+ ion. The previously unobserved 2 ⁣S1/2→2 ⁣D3/2^2\!S_{1/2} \rightarrow {}^2\!D_{3/2}2S1/2​→2D3/2​ electric quadrupole transition at 436 nm is coherently excited, and the isotope shift between 171Yb+^{171}\rm{Yb}^+171Yb+ and 173Yb+^{173}\rm{Yb}^+173Yb+ on this transition is determined with an uncertainty of 1.4 Hz. Using microwave spectroscopy, we resolve the hyperfine structure (HFS) of the 2 ⁣D3/2{}^2\!D_{3/2}2D3/2​ state with a relative uncertainty below 10−810^{-8}10−8. From the HFS measurement data, we infer for 173{}^{173}173Yb a nuclear magnetic octupole moment Ω=−0.062(8) (b×μN)Ω= -0.062(8)\,({\rm b} \times μ_N)Ω=−0.062(8)(b×μN​) with uncertainty reduced by more than 2 orders of magnitude compared to previous studies. The data also allow us to determine hyperfine anomalies for the 2 ⁣S1/2{}^2\!S_{1/2}2S1/2​ and 2 ⁣D3/2{}^2\!D_{3/2}2D3/2​ states.