We report observation of laser excitation of a narrow, magnetic-dipole-allowed, infrared transition in a single trapped ion. Quantum jumps of a ${\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$ atom were observed using a diode laser tuned in resonance with the excited-state 5d $^{2}$ ${\mathit{D}}_{3/2}$ --5d $^{2}$ ${\mathit{D}}_{5/2}$ transition at 12.48 \ensuremath{\mu}m. Single-ion resonance line shapes were obtained and a transition frequency of \ensuremath{\nu}=24 012 033\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}11 MHz was determined. Calculated quantum jump rates of the D-D transition for the applied laser spectral brightness yield agreement with experimentally observed values.We report observation of laser excitation of a narrow, magnetic-dipole-allowed, infrared transition in a single trapped ion. Quantum jumps of a ${\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$ atom were observed using a diode laser tuned in resonance with the excited-state 5d $^{2}$${\mathit{D}}_{3/2}$--5d $^{2}$${\mathit{D}}_{5/2}$ transition at 12.48 \ensuremath{\mu}m. Single-ion resonance line shapes were obtained and a transition frequency of \ensuremath{\nu}=24 012 033\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}11 MHz was determined. Calculated quantum jump rates of the D-D transition for the applied laser spectral brightness yield agreement with experimentally observed values.

Physical Review AFeb 1, 199215 citations

We report observation of laser excitation of a narrow, magnetic-dipole-allowed, infrared transition in a single trapped ion. Quantum jumps of a

{\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}

atom were observed using a diode laser tuned in resonance with the excited-state 5d

^{2}

{\mathit{D}}_{3/2}

--5d

^{2}

{\mathit{D}}_{5/2}

transition at 12.48 \ensuremath{\mu}m. Single-ion resonance line shapes were obtained and a transition frequency of \ensuremath{\nu}=24 012 033\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}11 MHz was determined. Calculated quantum jump rates of the D-D transition for the applied laser spectral brightness yield agreement with experimentally observed values.