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European Quantum Electronics Conference (EQEC)

A clock transition for future optical frequency standard with trapped atoms

Irène Ventrillard, Audrey Quessada, Anders Brusch, A. Kolker, Richard P. Kovacich, O. Acef, Giorgio Santarelli, Andr Clairon, Daniele Rovera, P. Lemonde

Published Jan 1, 2003• 6 citations

Abstract

Direct observation and frequency measurement of /sup 1/S/sub 0//spl rarr//sup 3/P/sub 0 /line within an accuracy of 20 kHz is reported. The resonance frequency with an accuracy of /spl sim/ 100 kHz is reported by indirect measurement of the energy difference between /sup 1/S/sub 0/ and /sup 3/P/sub 0/ states. It is performed by successive frequency measurements of atomic transitions with higher linewidth, easier to observe: /sup 1/S/sub 0/ - /sup 3/P/sub 1/, /sup 3/P/sub 1/ - /sup 3/S/sub 1/ and /sup 3/S/sub 1/ - /sup 3/P/sub 0/ transitions. To perform direct observation of the clock transition, atoms are cooled to a temperature of /spl sim/ 2 mK in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Although the saturation broadening of the transition is orders of magnitude smaller than the Doppler width (1.5 MHz), a detectable signal is achieved by inducing a small leak in the MOT with a laser tuned to resonance. Atoms accumulate in the metastable /sup 3/P/sub 0 /state where they escape the trap. The resonance is detected by a decrease in the MOT fluorescence signal with a contrast of 1%.

DOI: 10.1109/eqec.2003.1314122

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Direct observation and frequency measurement of /sup 1/S/sub 0//spl rarr//sup 3/P/sub 0 /line within an accuracy of 20 kHz is reported. The resonance frequency with an accuracy of /spl sim/ 100 kHz is reported by indirect measurement of the energy difference between /sup 1/S/sub 0/ and /sup 3/P/sub 0/ states. It is performed by successive frequency measurements of atomic transitions with higher linewidth, easier to observe: /sup 1/S/sub 0/ - /sup 3/P/sub 1/, /sup 3/P/sub 1/ - /sup 3/S/sub 1/ and /sup 3/S/sub 1/ - /sup 3/P/sub 0/ transitions. To perform direct observation of the clock transition, atoms are cooled to a temperature of /spl sim/ 2 mK in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). Although the saturation broadening of the transition is orders of magnitude smaller than the Doppler width (1.5 MHz), a detectable signal is achieved by inducing a small leak in the MOT with a laser tuned to resonance. Atoms accumulate in the metastable /sup 3/P/sub 0 /state where they escape the trap. The resonance is detected by a decrease in the MOT fluorescence signal with a contrast of 1%.

We report direct excitation of the strongly forbidden ${5s}^{2}{}^{1}{S}_{0}\ensuremath{-}5s5p{}^{3}{P}_{0}$ transition in

{}^{87}\mathrm{Sr}.

Its frequency is 429 228 004 235(20) kHz. A resonant laser creates a small leak in a magneto-optical trap (MOT): atoms build up to the metastable

{}^{3}{P}_{0}

state and escape the trapping process, leading to a detectable decrease in the MOT fluorescence. This line has a natural width of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}\mathrm{Hz}$ and can be used for a new generation of optical frequency standards using atoms trapped in a light-shift-free dipole trap.

As a key component of a strontium based optical clock, we have developed an apparatus which allows laser cooling and trapping of more than 10/sup 7/ /sup 88/Sr atoms to temperatures below 1 /spl mu/K. Using this system, we have performed the first high accuracy measurement of the /sup 88/Sr /sup 1/S/sub 0/-/sup 3/P/sub 1/ clock transition using an ultra-cold sample. Detailed descriptions of both the measurement technique and corresponding systematic uncertainties is provided. In addition, by varying the density of the ultra-cold /sup 88/Sr sample over a range of three orders of magnitude we obtain the first definitive measurement of a density-related frequency shift and linewidth broadening of an optical clock transition in an ultra-cold alkaline earth system. Spectroscopy of the /sub 1/S/sub 0/-/sup 3/P/sub 0/ transition is currently underway using this narrow probe laser and an octave spanning femtosecond laser. Our most recent results are presented. The proposed measurement technique, accuracy, and stability of an optical clock based on the EIT (electromagnetically-induced-transparency) measurement in /sup 88/Sr are described.

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.

This work has focused on two atoms, Sr and Yb, due in part to the relatively high abundance of their odd isotopes, the use of which is necessary for appreciable direct excitation probability. The Sr clock transition has been measured (with an uncertainty of 20 kHz) using atoms in a magneto-optic trap (MOT), and has been excited with atoms confined in a one dimensional lattice. Here we report direct excitation of the Yb clock transition (at 578 nm) with atoms in a second-stage MOT, and the first fs-laser comb-based absolute measurements of the clock frequency for two different isotopes. These measurements lead to a nearly millionfold improvement in our knowledge of the transition frequencies, an important step toward Doppler-free spectroscopy of Yb atoms in a lattice.

This work has focused on two atoms, Sr and Yb, due in part to the relatively high abundance of their odd isotopes, the use of which is necessary for appreciable direct excitation probability. The Sr clock transition has been measured (with an uncertainty of 20 kHz) using atoms in a magneto-optic trap (MOT), and has been excited with atoms confined in a one dimensional lattice. Here we report direct excitation of the Yb clock transition (at 578 nm) with atoms in a second-stage MOT, and the first fs-laser comb-based absolute measurements of the clock frequency for two different isotopes. These measurements lead to a nearly millionfold improvement in our knowledge of the transition frequencies, an important step toward Doppler-free spectroscopy of Yb atoms in a lattice.

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.