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Physical Review A

High-resolution spectroscopy of a single In+ ion: Progress towards an optical frequency standard

Th. Becker, Joachim von Zanthier, Alexander Yu. Nevsky, Ch. Schwedes, Mikhail N Skvortsov, HERBERT WALTHER, E. Peik

Published Apr 16, 2001• 106 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The ${5s}^{2}{}^{1}{S}_{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5s5p{}^{3}{P}_{0}$ transition of a single laser-cooled ${}^{115}{\mathrm{In}}^{+}$ ion in a miniature radiofrequency trap is investigated as a possible optical frequency standard. This line at a frequency of 1267 THz (wavelength 236.5 nm) is highly immune to frequency shifts due to external perturbations so that the expected systematic uncertainties can be reduced to the millihertz level. Experimentally, we obtained a fractional resolution $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}/\ensuremath{\nu}=1.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ (linewidth 170 Hz), limited by the frequency instability of the laser used for excitation. The g factor and the lifetime of the metastable ${}^{3}{P}_{0}$ level were measured as ${g(}^{3}{P}_{0})=\ensuremath{-}9.87(5)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ and $\ensuremath{\tau}{(}^{3}{P}_{0})=0.195(8) \mathrm{s}.$ Both values are in good agreement with perturbative calculations, based on hyperfine mixing between the ${}^{1}P$ and ${}^{3}P$ levels.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.63.051802

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We are investigating the 5s/sup 21/S/sub 0//spl rarr/5s5p/sup 3/P/sub 0/ transition of a single trapped laser-cooled /sup 115/In/sup +/ ion as a possible optical frequency standard. This line with a natural linewidth of only 1.1 Hz, corresponding to a Q factor of 1.2/spl middot/10/sup 15/, is highly immune to systematic frequency shifts due to external perturbations. For sideband laser cooling and fluorescence detection of the indium ion the 5s/sup 21/S/sub 0//spl rarr/5s5p/sup 3/P/sub 1/ transition at 230.6 nm is excited. Temperatures below 100 /spl mu/K and a mean vibrational quantum number<1 of the ion in the trap have been reached. For the clock transition a resolution of 3/spl middot/10/sup -13/ (linewidth 350 Hz) has been obtained so far, limited by the laser linewidth. The absolute frequency of the /sup 1/S/sub 0//spl rarr//sup 3/P/sub 0/ transition was measured by making a link to known reference frequencies of molecular iodine and methane using a frequency chain.

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The 5s21S0\ensuremath→5s5p3P0{5s}^{2}{}^{1}{S}_{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5s5p{}^{3}{P}_{0}5s21S0​\ensuremath→5s5p3P0​ transition of a single laser-cooled 115In+{}^{115}{\mathrm{In}}^{+}115In+ ion in a miniature radiofrequency trap is investigated as a possible optical frequency standard. This line at a frequency of 1267 THz (wavelength 236.5 nm) is highly immune to frequency shifts due to external perturbations so that the expected systematic uncertainties can be reduced to the millihertz level. Experimentally, we obtained a fractional resolution \ensuremathΔ\ensuremathν/\ensuremathν=1.3\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10\ensuremath−13\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}/\ensuremath{\nu}=1.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}\ensuremathΔ\ensuremathν/\ensuremathν=1.3\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10\ensuremath−13 (linewidth 170 Hz), limited by the frequency instability of the laser used for excitation. The g factor and the lifetime of the metastable 3P0{}^{3}{P}_{0}3P0​ level were measured as g(3P0)=\ensuremath−9.87(5)\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10\ensuremath−4{g(}^{3}{P}_{0})=\ensuremath{-}9.87(5)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}g(3P0​)=\ensuremath−9.87(5)\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10\ensuremath−4 and \ensuremathτ(3P0)=0.195(8)s.\ensuremath{\tau}{(}^{3}{P}_{0})=0.195(8) \mathrm{s}.\ensuremathτ(3P0​)=0.195(8)s. Both values are in good agreement with perturbative calculations, based on hyperfine mixing between the 1P{}^{1}P1P and 3P{}^{3}P3P levels.
We performed laser spectroscopy of In+{\mathrm{In}}^{+}In+ ions stored in a radio-frequency trap. The 5s2{\mathit{s}}^{2}s2 1^{1}1S0{\mathit{S}}_{0}S0​\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5s5p 3^{3}3P1{\mathit{P}}_{1}P1​ transition at 230.6 nm was excited and its hyperfine splitting and isotope shift have been measured. The lifetime of the 3^{3}3P1{\mathit{P}}_{1}P1​ state was measured using intensity modulated laser excitation: \ensuremath{\tau}(3{(}^{3}(3P1{\mathit{P}}_{1}P1​)=0.44(4) \ensuremath{\mu}s. A single indium ion was laser cooled using this intercombination line and dark periods in the fluorescence were observed when the metastable 3^{3}3P0{\mathit{P}}_{0}P0​ state was populated by a magnetic dipole decay from 3^{3}3P1{\mathit{P}}_{1}P1​. The radiative lifetime of the forbidden transition 3^{3}3P0{\mathit{P}}_{0}P0​${\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}^{1}$S0{\mathit{S}}_{0}S0​ was determined from the duration of the dark periods: \ensuremath{\tau}(3{(}^{3}(3P0{\mathit{P}}_{0}P0​)=0.14(2) s. This value is compared to calculations based on perturbation theory. Prospects for an optical frequency standard using the narrow 5s2{\mathit{s}}^{2}s2 1^{1}1S0{\mathit{S}}_{0}S0​\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5s5p 3^{3}3P0{\mathit{P}}_{0}P0​ resonance at 236.5 nm of a single laser-cooled indium ion are discussed.
Single laser-cooled ions in radiofrequency traps can serve as the basis for highly stable optical frequency standards. Here we present recent results on In+, using the 1S0 yields 3P0 line at 236.5 nm wavelength as the clock transition. This resonance has a natural linewidth of only 0.82 Hz and systematic shifts should be controllable at the mHz level. A single indium ion is stored in a miniature Paul- Straubel trap and laser cooled to a temperature of about 100 (mu) K. The clock transition is excited using a frequency quadrupled 946 nm Nd:YAG laser. A fractional resolution of 1.3 (DOT) 10-13 has been achieved so far (linewidth of 170 Hz at 1267 THz). The absolute optical frequency of the clock transition has been measured with an uncertainty being less than 3 (DOT) 10-13 using a frequency chain and a methane-stabilized HeNe laser that was calibrated with a cesium clock.
We performed laser spectroscopy of In+{\mathrm{In}}^{+}In+ ions stored in a radio-frequency trap. The 5s2{\mathit{s}}^{2}s2 1^{1}1S0{\mathit{S}}_{0}S0​\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5s5p 3^{3}3P1{\mathit{P}}_{1}P1​ transition at 230.6 nm was excited and its hyperfine splitting and isotope shift have been measured. The lifetime of the 3^{3}3P1{\mathit{P}}_{1}P1​ state was measured using intensity modulated laser excitation: \ensuremath{\tau}(3{(}^{3}(3P1{\mathit{P}}_{1}P1​)=0.44(4) \ensuremath{\mu}s. A single indium ion was laser cooled using this intercombination line and dark periods in the fluorescence were observed when the metastable 3^{3}3P0{\mathit{P}}_{0}P0​ state was populated by a magnetic dipole decay from 3^{3}3P1{\mathit{P}}_{1}P1​. The radiative lifetime of the forbidden transition 3^{3}3P0{\mathit{P}}_{0}P0​${\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}^{1}$S0{\mathit{S}}_{0}S0​ was determined from the duration of the dark periods: \ensuremath{\tau}(3{(}^{3}(3P0{\mathit{P}}_{0}P0​)=0.14(2) s. This value is compared to calculations based on perturbation theory. Prospects for an optical frequency standard using the narrow 5s2{\mathit{s}}^{2}s2 1^{1}1S0{\mathit{S}}_{0}S0​\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5s5p 3^{3}3P0{\mathit{P}}_{0}P0​ resonance at 236.5 nm of a single laser-cooled indium ion are discussed.
Summary form only given. Laser-cooled ions in radiofrequency traps are the atomic systems that allow the highest resolution (ratio of frequency to linewidth) in optical or microwave spectroscopy. They can serve as references in highly stable frequency standards and also enable precise tests of fundamental physics. We present recent results on our In/sup +/ optical frequency standard, based on the 5s/sup 2/ /sup 1/S/sub 0//spl rarr/5s5p /sup 3/P/sub 0/ transition at 236.5 nm wavelength. This transition has a natural linewidth of only 0.82 Hz and is highly immune to systematic frequency shifts.
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.
We are investigating the 5s/sup 21/S/sub 0//spl rarr/5s5p/sup 3/P/sub 0/ transition of a single trapped laser-cooled /sup 115/In/sup +/ ion as a possible optical frequency standard. This line with a natural linewidth of only 1.1 Hz, corresponding to a Q factor of 1.2/spl middot/10/sup 15/, is highly immune to systematic frequency shifts due to external perturbations. For sideband laser cooling and fluorescence detection of the indium ion the 5s/sup 21/S/sub 0//spl rarr/5s5p/sup 3/P/sub 1/ transition at 230.6 nm is excited. Temperatures below 100 /spl mu/K and a mean vibrational quantum number<1 of the ion in the trap have been reached. For the clock transition a resolution of 3/spl middot/10/sup -13/ (linewidth 350 Hz) has been obtained so far, limited by the laser linewidth. The absolute frequency of the /sup 1/S/sub 0//spl rarr//sup 3/P/sub 0/ transition was measured by making a link to known reference frequencies of molecular iodine and methane using a frequency chain.