Physical Review Letters

High Precision Linewidth Measurement of Laser-Cooled Atoms: Resolution of the Na 3p2P3/2 Lifetime Discrepancy

Chris W. Oates, Kurt R. Vogel, J. L. Hall

Published Apr 15, 1996• 91 citations

Abstract

We report resolution of the 1% discrepancy between theory and experiment for the lifetime of the first excited state of Na. Determining the atomic lifetime by a novel method, we have measured the natural linewidth of the $3{}^{2}{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}$ transition with $<0.25%$ accuracy through precision spectroscopy on an optically prepared sample of ultracold, two-level atoms. The resulting $3{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}$ lifetime of 16.237(35) ns disagrees with previous time-domain measurements but is in good agreement with recent calculations and a new fast beam result.

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.76.2866

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Fast-beam laser lifetime measurements of the cesium 6p2P1/2,3/2 states

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Physical Review Letters

High Precision Linewidth Measurement of Laser-Cooled Atoms: Resolution of the Na 3p2P3/2 Lifetime Discrepancy

Chris W. Oates, Kurt R. Vogel, J. L. Hall

Published Apr 15, 1996• 91 citations

Publisher

Abstract

3{}^{2}{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}

transition with

<0.25%

accuracy through precision spectroscopy on an optically prepared sample of ultracold, two-level atoms. The resulting

3{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}

lifetime of 16.237(35) ns disagrees with previous time-domain measurements but is in good agreement with recent calculations and a new fast beam result.

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.76.2866

Related papers

Fast-beam laser lifetime measurements of the cesium 6p2P1/2,3/2 states

Robert J. Rafac, Carol E. Tanner, A. E. Livingston +1 more

We provide a detailed description of our fast-beam laser lifetime measurements in atomic cesium. Selective excitation of the neutral ${}^{133}\mathrm{Cs}$ $6p{}^{2}{P}_{1/2}$ and $6p{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}$ states is accomplished with resonant diode laser light directed transversely to the atomic velocity. The in-flight decay of the excited-state fluorescence is observed with a position-correlated single photon-counting detector. The Doppler-shifted $6p{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}$ resonance, when probed with longitudinally propagating laser radiation, provides a precise means for determination of the beam velocity, and converts the position scale to a time scale. Our lifetime results are $35.07\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10 \mathrm{ns}$ for the $6p{}^{2}{P}_{1/2}$ state and $30.57\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.07 \mathrm{ns}$ for the $6p{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}$ state. These results represent a data set larger than in our previous work, and include beam divergence corrections which have been evaluated by two different methods. We present comparisons of our results with previous measurements and with relativistic many-body calculations of atomic transition matrix elements in this neutral alkali system.We provide a detailed description of our fast-beam laser lifetime measurements in atomic cesium. Selective excitation of the neutral ${}^{133}\mathrm{Cs}$ $6p{}^{2}{P}_{1/2}$ and $6p{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}$ states is accomplished with resonant diode laser light directed transversely to the atomic velocity. The in-flight decay of the excited-state fluorescence is observed with a position-correlated single photon-counting detector. The Doppler-shifted $6p{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}$ resonance, when probed with longitudinally propagating laser radiation, provides a precise means for determination of the beam velocity, and converts the position scale to a time scale. Our lifetime results are $35.07\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10 \mathrm{ns}$ for the $6p{}^{2}{P}_{1/2}$ state and $30.57\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.07 \mathrm{ns}$ for the $6p{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}$ state. These results represent a data set larger than in our previous work, and include beam divergence corrections which have been evaluated by two different methods. We present comparisons of our results with previous measurements and with relativistic many-body calculations of atomic transition matrix elements in this neutral alkali system.

Physical Review ANov 1, 199992 citations

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Gary M. Carter, David E. Pritchard, Martin Kaplan +1 more

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Physical Review LettersOct 27, 197593 citations

Measurement of the atomic Na(3 P ) lifetime and of retardation in the interaction between two atoms bound in a molecule

K. M. Jones, Paul S. Julienne, Paul D. Lett +3 more

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Physical Review LettersOct 27, 19750 citations

Measurements of the lifetimes of the 7 2 P1/2o and 7 2 P3/2o excited states of thallium

John V. James, Charles C. Wang, Chuan Guo

The lifetimes of the 7 ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$ ${P}_{1/2}^{o}$ and 7 ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$ ${P}_{3/2}^{o}$ states of thallium have been measured for the first time by observing the fluorescence decay following two-photon resonant excitation in an atomic beam. The values obtained for these states are 61.9 and 48.4 ns, respectively, with an uncertainty of 2%. These results are in good quantitative agreement with the calculations of Bardsley and Norcross, which include the effect of core polarizability.The lifetimes of the 7 ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${P}_{1/2}^{o}$ and 7 ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${P}_{3/2}^{o}$ states of thallium have been measured for the first time by observing the fluorescence decay following two-photon resonant excitation in an atomic beam. The values obtained for these states are 61.9 and 48.4 ns, respectively, with an uncertainty of 2%. These results are in good quantitative agreement with the calculations of Bardsley and Norcross, which include the effect of core polarizability.

Physical Review AJul 1, 19859 citations

Cavity-QED determination of the natural linewidth of the $^{87}$ Sr millihertz clock transition with 30 $\mu$ Hz resolutionCavity-QED determination of the natural linewidth of the $^{87}$Sr millihertz clock transition with 30$\mu$Hz resolution

Juan A. Muniz, Dylan J. Young, Julia Cline +1 more

We present a new method for determining the intrinsic natural linewidth or lifetime of exceptionally long-lived optical excited states. Such transitions are key to the performance of state-of-the-art atomic clocks, have potential applications in searches for fundamental physics and gravitational wave detectors, as well as novel quantum many-body phenomena. With longer lifetime optical transitions, sensitivity is increased, but so far it has proved challenging to determine the natural lifetime of many of these long lived optical excited states because standard population decay detection techniques become experimentally difficult. Here, we determine the ratio of a poorly known ultranarrow linewidth transition ( $^3$ P $_0$ to $^1$ S $_0$ in $^{87}$ Sr) to that of another narrow well known transition ( $^3$ P $_1$ to $^1$ S $_0$ ) by coupling the two transitions to a single optical cavity and performing interleaved nondestructive measurements of the interaction strengths of the atoms with cavity modes near each transition frequency. We use this approach to determine the natural linewidth of the clock transition $^3$ P $_0$ to $^1$ S $_0$ in $^{87}$ Sr to be $\gamma_0/(2\pi) = 1.35(3)~$ mHz or $\tau= 118(3)~$ s. The 30 $~\mu$ Hz resolution implies that we could detect states with lifetimes just below 2 hours, and with straightforward future improvements, we could detect states with lifetimes up to 15 hours, using measurement trials that last only a few hundred milliseconds, eliminating the need for long storage times in optical potentials.We present a new method for determining the intrinsic natural linewidth or lifetime of exceptionally long-lived optical excited states. Such transitions are key to the performance of state-of-the-art atomic clocks, have potential applications in searches for fundamental physics and gravitational wave detectors, as well as novel quantum many-body phenomena. With longer lifetime optical transitions, sensitivity is increased, but so far it has proved challenging to determine the natural lifetime of many of these long lived optical excited states because standard population decay detection techniques become experimentally difficult. Here, we determine the ratio of a poorly known ultranarrow linewidth transition ($^3$P$_0$ to $^1$S$_0$ in $^{87}$Sr) to that of another narrow well known transition ($^3$P$_1$ to $^1$S$_0$) by coupling the two transitions to a single optical cavity and performing interleaved nondestructive measurements of the interaction strengths of the atoms with cavity modes near each transition frequency. We use this approach to determine the natural linewidth of the clock transition $^3$P$_0$ to $^1$S$_0$ in $^{87}$Sr to be $\gamma_0/(2\pi) = 1.35(3)~$mHz or $\tau= 118(3)~$s. The 30$~\mu$Hz resolution implies that we could detect states with lifetimes just below 2 hours, and with straightforward future improvements, we could detect states with lifetimes up to 15 hours, using measurement trials that last only a few hundred milliseconds, eliminating the need for long storage times in optical potentials.

arXiv:2007.07855Jul 15, 20201 citation

3{}^{2}{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}

transition with

<0.25%

accuracy through precision spectroscopy on an optically prepared sample of ultracold, two-level atoms. The resulting

3{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}

lifetime of 16.237(35) ns disagrees with previous time-domain measurements but is in good agreement with recent calculations and a new fast beam result.

We provide a detailed description of our fast-beam laser lifetime measurements in atomic cesium. Selective excitation of the neutral

{}^{133}\mathrm{Cs}

6p{}^{2}{P}_{1/2}

and

6p{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}

states is accomplished with resonant diode laser light directed transversely to the atomic velocity. The in-flight decay of the excited-state fluorescence is observed with a position-correlated single photon-counting detector. The Doppler-shifted

6p{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}

resonance, when probed with longitudinally propagating laser radiation, provides a precise means for determination of the beam velocity, and converts the position scale to a time scale. Our lifetime results are $35.07\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10 \mathrm{ns}$ for the

6p{}^{2}{P}_{1/2}

state and $30.57\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.07 \mathrm{ns}$ for the

6p{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}

state. These results represent a data set larger than in our previous work, and include beam divergence corrections which have been evaluated by two different methods. We present comparisons of our results with previous measurements and with relativistic many-body calculations of atomic transition matrix elements in this neutral alkali system.

We report high-resolution measurements of the differential cross section for scattering Na in its

3{S}_{\frac{1}{2}}

and

3{P}_{\frac{3}{2}}

states from Ne. A new scheme is used to maintain a high fraction (\ensuremath{\sim}20%) of an atomic beam of Na in the excited state for many radiative lifetimes using a single-mode cw dye laser. The differential cross sections are interpreted to yield interatomic potential curves for both the $X\ensuremath{\Sigma}$ and $A\ensuremath{\Pi}$ states of the NaNe molecule which seriously disagree with recent pseudopotential calculations.

Differential scattering of Na 3S

sub 1

sub 2

and 3P

sub 3

sub 2

from Ne: Determination of ground- and excited-state potentials for NaNe

We report high-resolution measurements of the differential cross section for scattering Na in its 3S

sub 1

sub 2

and 3P

sub 3

sub 2

states from Ne. A new scheme is used to maintain a high fraction (approx.20%) of an atomic beam of Na in the excited state for many radiative lifetimes using a single-mode cw dye laser. The differential cross sections are interpreted to yield interatomic potential curves for both the X

Sigma

and APi states of the NaNe molecule which seriously disagree with recent pseudopotential calculations. (AIP)

The lifetimes of the 7

{\mathrm{}}^{2}

{P}_{1/2}^{o}

and 7

{\mathrm{}}^{2}

{P}_{3/2}^{o}

states of thallium have been measured for the first time by observing the fluorescence decay following two-photon resonant excitation in an atomic beam. The values obtained for these states are 61.9 and 48.4 ns, respectively, with an uncertainty of 2%. These results are in good quantitative agreement with the calculations of Bardsley and Norcross, which include the effect of core polarizability.

Cavity-QED determination of the natural linewidth of the

^{87}

Sr millihertz clock transition with 30

\mu

Hz resolution

^3

_0

^1

_0

^{87}

Sr) to that of another narrow well known transition (

^3

_1

^1

_0

) by coupling the two transitions to a single optical cavity and performing interleaved nondestructive measurements of the interaction strengths of the atoms with cavity modes near each transition frequency. We use this approach to determine the natural linewidth of the clock transition

^3

_0

^1

_0

^{87}

Sr to be

\gamma_0/(2\pi) = 1.35(3)~

mHz or

\tau= 118(3)~

s. The 30

~\mu

Hz resolution implies that we could detect states with lifetimes just below 2 hours, and with straightforward future improvements, we could detect states with lifetimes up to 15 hours, using measurement trials that last only a few hundred milliseconds, eliminating the need for long storage times in optical potentials.