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Physica Scripta

Precision spectroscopy on stored atomic ions

Günther Werth

Published Jul 1, 1987• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Examples of recent experiments are presented which show characteristic features associated with the technique of ion trapping: Ultrahigh resolution in hyperfine spectroscopy due to long coherence time, lifetime measurements for very long living states and rare isotope investigation due to the high sensitivity of optical detection of stored ions. The possibility of experiments of fundamental quantum mechanical interest will be pointed out. In addition a few open questions associated with the behaviour of large ion clouds, which might influence the precision of future experiments, will be discussed.

DOI
10.1088/0031-8949/36/1/024

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•Nov 23, 1995•1 citation
Examples of recent experiments are presented which show characteristic features associated with the technique of ion trapping: Ultrahigh resolution in hyperfine spectroscopy due to long coherence time, lifetime measurements for very long living states and rare isotope investigation due to the high sensitivity of optical detection of stored ions. The possibility of experiments of fundamental quantum mechanical interest will be pointed out. In addition a few open questions associated with the behaviour of large ion clouds, which might influence the precision of future experiments, will be discussed.
We discuss the Ca+ ion as a simple atomic system, described as an electronic three-level system. In a Paul ion trap a small ion cloud can be laser cooled until crystallisation appears which reduces the ion motion. Lifetime and hyperfine structure measurements in ground and excited electronic states can be performed with high precision. A first example for the investigation of a complex ionic system is represented by the Eu+ ion, where hyperfine structure splittings have been obtained with uncertainties in the 10−9 range even on radioactive isotopes with few available particles. These small uncertainties require extensive and complicated pertubation calculation for a determination of coupling constant, but open the way for detailed investigation of nuclear structure effects.
Recent experimental works with ion traps are surveyed.Ion traps can confine ions of very low-energy in a small space, and they are useful tools for the precise spectroscopy of ions.Basic ideas on trapping mechanism of several types of the traps and detection methods of trapped ions are summarized.Major topics are ultrahigh-resolution spectroscopy of ions using laser cooling methods and physics on one-component plasmas such as localization, phase transition and crystallization of ion cloud.Applications to elementary particle physics , nuclear physics and atomic physics on multiply charged ions are also presented.
Quantum mechanical effects which are manifested in measurements on trapped atomic ions are reviewed. Observation of these effects is facilitated by the long storage times of a fixed number of laser-cooled ions and by high detection sensitivities, primarily through the observation of scattered laser light. We discuss the observation of quantum jumps and the application of quantum jumps to measurement of atomic ion lifetimes and spectra, detection of antibunching of light, the quantum Zeno effect and quantum projection noise. Experiments which detect nonclassical features of fluorescent light from single or a few trapped ions are briefly reviewed. Finally, we discuss experiments which reveal quantum effects in the motion of trapped ions. We briefly describe possible future extensions for each of these topics.
Since the birth of ion trapping techniques in the 1960s, physics and chemistry applications have evolved fruitfully in concert, leading to the award of one-quarter of the 1989 Nobel Prize in Physics to each of W. Paul [1] and H.G. Dehmelt [2]. Although radiofrequency ion traps were used largely for high resolution atomic spectroscopy, spin exchange experiences, and lifetimes of atomic levels [3,4], the so-called ‘QUISTOR’[5] (QUadrupole Ion STORe) opened a new vista in mass spectrometry not only for component analysis but also for studies of chemical reaction paths also. Atomic excitations that are employed in lasers and the subsequent manipulation of such atomic lasers have stimulated the realization of the huge possibilities presented by ion trapping. Laser cooling, which has permitted the attainment of extreme accuracy in atomic spectroscopy measurements, has provided the means for precise internal and external ion energy manipulation thus opening the way to novel and powerful applications, such as quantum information and atomic clocks in the optical domain [6]. In general, lasers afford quite extraordinary means for both the formation of monatomic and polyatomic ions in specic excitation states and for probing such species in excited states. Recent progress in the development of a wide range of lasers, including the advent of laser diodes, offers myriad opportunities for new kinds of investigations. Another important research direction was opened by the liberties taken with the hyperboloidal geometry of the quadrupole ion trap. Enhanced understanding of the connement properties of quadrupole ion traps allowed the exploitation of new geometries that were easier to construct, such as cylindrical ion traps that permitted ready access for experimentation, exploited new characteristics such an non-linear modes of excitation, and introduced a stretched geometry that led to improvement in mass resolution. Recently, miniaturization of cages [7] or traps on micro-chips [8] have been exploited in atomic quantum physics as well as in chemistry analysis.* It is worthy to note that the extent of progress made in each of these domains was realized due to the curiosity of researchers and their desire to learn from the results of the experiments carried out. The purpose of this chapter is to expound upon the specic topic of atomic clocks utilizing ion traps and the new challenges engaged presently for the measurement of time with extremely high precision. Today, ion atomic clocks are designed for various systems (that is, the ion-trap-oscillator ensemble) that could offer new opportunities for the design of new ion trapping applications.
New developments in spectroscopy and quantum optics with stored ions are summarized and discussed. Currently used ion trap devices are briefly described, and newly proposed cooling techniques are indicated. Recent results in precision spectroscopy are reviewed with particular emphasis on time and frequency standards. New applications of stored ions in the field of quantum optics are proposed such as the preparation of nonclassical states of motion in an ion trap. These can be detected by observation of the quantum collapse and revival phenomenon.
Abstract In this chapter we present applications of ion traps to: (i) determination of the g-value of an electron from electron spin resonance experiments on a single electron, (ii) observation of quantum jumps in a single trapped ion, (iii) an experimental test of the quantum Zeno effect, (iv) a precision test of the linearity of quantum mechanics, (v) a range of studies on one-component microplasmas, (vi) optical spectroscopy of molecular ions, (vii) precision mass measurement of stable isotopes, (viii) precision mass measurement of radioactive isotopes, (ix) trapping and precision mass measurement of antimatter, specifically of antiprotons, (x) lifetime measurement of neutron undergoing beta decay, and (xi) atomic physics of highly charged ions.