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Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements

Precision frequency measurement of the 2S1/2 — 2F7/2 electric octupole transition in a single 171Yb+ ion

Stephen A. Webster, Kazumoto Hosaka, Barney Walton, Helen S. Margolis, Patrick Robert Gill

Published Jun 1, 2008• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report precision laser spectroscopy of the2S1/2(F = 0, mF=0)-2F7/2(F =3, mF= 0) clock transition in a single, trapped, laser cooled ion of171Yb+. The absolute frequency is measured to be 642 121 496 772 656 (12) Hz, a factor of 20 more accurate than previous measurements.
DOI
10.1109/cpem.2008.4574670

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We report on precision laser spectroscopy of the ${^{2}S}_{1/2}(F=0)\text{\ensuremath{-}}{^{2}F}_{7/2}(F=3,{m}_{F}=0)$ clock transition in a single ion of 171Yb+{^{171}\text{Y}\text{b}}^{+}171Yb+. A linewidth of <40 Hz<40\text{ }\text{Hz}<40 Hz is observed and frequency instability due to fluctuation of the ac Stark shift is reduced through improved stability of the beam alignment. The absolute value of the transition frequency, determined using an optical frequency comb, is $642\text{ }121\text{ }496\text{ }772\text{ }657\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}12\text{ }\text{Hz}$ with a fractional uncertainty of $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}$. This is a factor of 50 better than the previously published value [Hosaka et al., IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas. 54, 759 (2005)].
Spectroscopy has been performed on $\mathrm{the}{}^{2}{S}_{1/2}(F=0,{m}_{F}{=0)\ensuremath{-}}^{2}{F}_{7/2}{(F=3,m}_{F}=0)$ electric octupole transition in 171Yb+{}^{171}{\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}171Yb+ with kilohertz resolution. A quantum jump rate of more than one per second has been achieved, a factor of 100 improvement on previous work. Spectra including the sidebands at the trap secular frequency show the ion to be in the Lambe-Dicke regime and hence the Doppler effect has been eliminated to first order. The dynamic Stark shift is a significant perturbation to the frequency because of the high intensity required to drive the octupole transition. It has been measured as ${42}_{\ensuremath{-}10}^{+12} \ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{Hz}{\mathrm{W}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}{\mathrm{m}}^{2}$ and with further reduction in the probe laser linewidth, it should be possible to reduce the relative uncertainty in this shift to the parts in 1018{10}^{18}1018 level. The transition is free from the Zeeman effect to first order and has a measured second-order shift of $1.9(3) \mathrm{mHz}(\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{T}{)}^{\ensuremath{-}2}.$ It should be possible to reduce the relative uncertainty in this shift to below the part in 1018{10}^{18}1018 level. The electric quadrupole shift may be the limiting systematic effect, but cannot yet be observed with the current resolution on the transition.
Forbidden transitions in single trapped ion systems are being considered as references for future optical frequency standards. These standards are expected to have application as highly stable and reproducible optical clocks, realizations of the metre and as optical frequency standards in their own right. This paper prescribes the work carried out at the National Physical Laboratory over recent years to use a highly forbidden 2S1/2 - 2F7/2 467 nm electric octupole transition in a single ion of 171Yb+ as a frequency reference. A review of the previous measurements needed to the locate octupole transition in this 171-isotope is given and a more detailed discussion of recent work is presented. This includes spectroscopy of the octupole transition with kilohertz resolution and a direct measurement of its optical frequency. Measurements of the dynamic Stark and the quadratic Zeeman shifts on the octupole frequency are also discussed.
The 2S1/2 (F = 0) - 2F7/2 (F = 3, m F = 0) transition at 467 nm in a single, trapped, laser cooled ion of 171Yb+ has the potential to be an extremely accurate optical frequency reference. Systematic shifts have been evaluated and are currently dominated by the ac-Stark shift. However, this is not expected to be the case as probe laser linewidth is reduced. A heterodyne measurement of the probe laser shows it to have a width of 20 Hz on a 1 minute timescale. The atomic spectrum on the other hand, has been found to have a broadened width of 200 Hz. Using heterodyne detection of light reflected from the trap electrodes, Doppler shifting due to vibration of the trap is identified as the additional source of broadening.