We report precise measurements of inter-level interactions in a bosonic optical lattice clock based on $^{88}$ Sr atoms. We observe a nonlinear density dependence of the clock shift, even without reaching quantum degeneracy. In a 2D lattice, the Rabi line shape exhibits an interaction sideband consistent with a collective spin model, while in a 1D lattice the shift is modified by density-induced dephasing. These findings, combined with a careful choice of interrogation detuning and atomic density, can enable operation at a net-zero systematic density shift in $^{88}$ Sr lattice clocks. We discuss the implications of these findings in many-body physics, quantum simulation, and precision isotope shift measurements, which provide a powerful probe for new physics beyond the Standard Model.We report precise measurements of inter-level interactions in a bosonic optical lattice clock based on $^{88}$Sr atoms. We observe a nonlinear density dependence of the clock shift, even without reaching quantum degeneracy. In a 2D lattice, the Rabi line shape exhibits an interaction sideband consistent with a collective spin model, while in a 1D lattice the shift is modified by density-induced dephasing. These findings, combined with a careful choice of interrogation detuning and atomic density, can enable operation at a net-zero systematic density shift in $^{88}$Sr lattice clocks. We discuss the implications of these findings in many-body physics, quantum simulation, and precision isotope shift measurements, which provide a powerful probe for new physics beyond the Standard Model.

physics.atom-phCross-listedarXiv:2608.02425Aug 4, 20260 citations

Few-body interactions in a Fermi degenerate optical lattice clock

G. Edward Marti, Akihisa Goban, Ross B. Hutson +2 more

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyJun 6, 20170 citations

Effects of small-chain superexchange dynamics on spin-orbit-coupled clock spectroscopy

Mikhail Mamaev, Ana María Rey, William R. Milner

Optical lattice clocks have set records in clock precision and accuracy. Continuing to advance their performance, via probing as many atoms as possible for the longest interrogation time affordable, requires experimentally and theoretically studying a many-body lattice system. Motivated by recent experimental results on a Fermi-degenerate three-dimensional optical lattice clock [W. R. Milner et al., Science 388, 503 (2025)], we present a theoretical overview of Ramsey and Rabi spectroscopy in one-dimensional chains. At realistic experimental temperatures and confinement conditions, atoms are spatially localized into small chains of approximately one to five atoms. We show that in the presence of spin-orbit coupling induced by the clock laser, the spectroscopy observables are modified by superexchange interactions within each chain, and depend strongly on the length of the chain. The thermal distribution of chain lengths thus plays a key role in the spectroscopy measurements. Our results offer insight into observable many-body effects in state-of-the-art lattice clocks and suggest new directions for optimizing clock performance.Optical lattice clocks have set records in clock precision and accuracy. Continuing to advance their performance, via probing as many atoms as possible for the longest interrogation time affordable, requires experimentally and theoretically studying a many-body lattice system. Motivated by recent experimental results on a Fermi-degenerate three-dimensional optical lattice clock [W. R. Milner et al., Science 388, 503 (2025)], we present a theoretical overview of Ramsey and Rabi spectroscopy in one-dimensional chains. At realistic experimental temperatures and confinement conditions, atoms are spatially localized into small chains of approximately one to five atoms. We show that in the presence of spin-orbit coupling induced by the clock laser, the spectroscopy observables are modified by superexchange interactions within each chain, and depend strongly on the length of the chain. The thermal distribution of chain lengths thus plays a key role in the spectroscopy measurements. Our results offer insight into observable many-body effects in state-of-the-art lattice clocks and suggest new directions for optimizing clock performance.

arXiv:2507.11433Physical Review ANov 21, 20250 citations

We report precise measurements of inter-level interactions in a bosonic optical lattice clock based on

^{88}

Sr atoms. We observe a nonlinear density dependence of the clock shift, even without reaching quantum degeneracy. In a 2D lattice, the Rabi line shape exhibits an interaction sideband consistent with a collective spin model, while in a 1D lattice the shift is modified by density-induced dephasing. These findings, combined with a careful choice of interrogation detuning and atomic density, can enable operation at a net-zero systematic density shift in

^{88}

Sr lattice clocks. We discuss the implications of these findings in many-body physics, quantum simulation, and precision isotope shift measurements, which provide a powerful probe for new physics beyond the Standard Model.