Physical Review A

Lifetime of the 5d2D5/2 level of Ba+138 from quantum jumps with single and multiple Ba+ ions

Elwin Dijck, Amita Mohanty, Nivedya Valappol, Mayerlin Núñez Portela, Lorenz Willmann, Klaus Peter Jungmann

Published Mar 14, 2018• 10 citations

Abstract

The lifetime of the long-lived $5d{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ level in $^{138}\mathrm{Ba}^{+}$ ions was measured in trapped single ions and small ion crystals using continuous quantum jump spectroscopy. We find ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{{D}_{5/2}}=25.6(0.5)\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\text{s}$, significantly below previously reported values. We have verified our result by exploiting camera images of the stored ions, which enabled monitoring the cleanliness and sufficiently low temperature of the ion samples, and investigating common systematic effects.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.97.032508

Related papers

Measurement of the branching fractions and lifetime of the 5D5/2 level of Ba+

Carolyn Auchter, Thomas W. Noel, Matthew Hoffman +2 more

arXiv:1409.0873Physical Review ADec 17, 201426 citations

Measurement of the lifetime of the 3d2D5/2 state in 40Ca+

P. A. Barton, C. J. S. Donald, D. M. Lucas +3 more

arXiv:physics/0002026Physical Review AAug 14, 2000132 citations

Quantum jumps and the single trapped barium ion: Determination of collisional quenching rates for the 5 d2 D5/2 level

Alan A. Madej, J. D. Sankey

Physical Review AMar 1, 199075 citations

Lifetime measurement of the metastable 4dD5∕22 state in Sr+88 using a single trapped ion

V. Letchumanan, M. A. Wilson, Patrick Robert Gill +1 more

Physical Review AJul 13, 200539 citations

Branching fractions for P3/2 decays in Ba+

Zhiqiang Zhang, K. J. Arnold, Sapam Ranjita Chanu +3 more

arXiv:2003.02263Physical Review AJun 24, 202016 citations

Lifetime measurement of the 5d2 D 5/2 state in Ba+

Amita Mohanty, Elwin Dijck, Mayerlin Nuñez Portela +5 more

arXiv:1504.03023Hyperfine InteractionsApr 20, 20154 citations

Physical Review A

Lifetime of the 5d2D5/2 level of Ba+138 from quantum jumps with single and multiple Ba+ ions

Elwin Dijck, Amita Mohanty, Nivedya Valappol, Mayerlin Núñez Portela, Lorenz Willmann, Klaus Peter Jungmann

Published Mar 14, 2018• 10 citations

Publisher

Abstract

The lifetime of the long-lived

5d{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}

level in

^{138}\mathrm{Ba}^{+}

ions was measured in trapped single ions and small ion crystals using continuous quantum jump spectroscopy. We find

{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{{D}_{5/2}}=25.6(0.5)\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\text{s}

, significantly below previously reported values. We have verified our result by exploiting camera images of the stored ions, which enabled monitoring the cleanliness and sufficiently low temperature of the ion samples, and investigating common systematic effects.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.97.032508

Related papers

Measurement of the branching fractions and lifetime of the 5D5/2 level of Ba+

Carolyn Auchter, Thomas W. Noel, Matthew Hoffman +2 more

We present a measurement of the branching fractions for decay from the long-lived $5{D}_{5/2}$ level in ${^{138}\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$ . The branching fraction for decay into the $6{S}_{1/2}$ ground state was found to be $0.846{(25)}_{\mathrm{stat}}{(4)}_{\mathrm{sys}}$ . We also report an improved measurement of the $5{D}_{5/2}$ lifetime, ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{5{D}_{5/2}}=31.2(0.9)$ s. Together these measurements provide an experimental determination of transition rates for decay out of the $5{D}_{5/2}$ level. The low ($<7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}$ Torr) pressure in the ion trap in which these measurements were made simplified data acquisition and analysis. Comparison of the experimental results with theoretical predictions of the transition rates shows good agreement.We present a measurement of the branching fractions for decay from the long-lived $5{D}_{5/2}$ level in ${^{138}\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$. The branching fraction for decay into the $6{S}_{1/2}$ ground state was found to be $0.846{(25)}_{\mathrm{stat}}{(4)}_{\mathrm{sys}}$. We also report an improved measurement of the $5{D}_{5/2}$ lifetime, ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{5{D}_{5/2}}=31.2(0.9)$ s. Together these measurements provide an experimental determination of transition rates for decay out of the $5{D}_{5/2}$ level. The low ($<7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}$ Torr) pressure in the ion trap in which these measurements were made simplified data acquisition and analysis. Comparison of the experimental results with theoretical predictions of the transition rates shows good agreement.

arXiv:1409.0873Physical Review ADec 17, 201426 citations

Measurement of the lifetime of the 3d2D5/2 state in 40Ca+

P. A. Barton, C. J. S. Donald, D. M. Lucas +3 more

We report a measurement of the lifetime of the $3d{}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ metastable level in ${}^{40}{\mathrm{Ca}}^{+},$ using quantum jumps of a single cold calcium ion in a linear Paul trap. The $4s{}^{2}{S}_{1/2}--3d{}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ transition is significant for single-ion optical frequency standards, astrophysical references, and tests of atomic structure calculations. We obtain $\ensuremath{\tau}=1.168\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.007$ s from observation of nearly $64000$ quantum jumps during $\ensuremath{\sim}32$ h. Our result is more precise and significantly larger than previous measurements. Experiments carried out to quantify systematic effects included a study of a previously unremarked source of systematic error, namely, excitation by the broad background of radiation emitted by a semiconductor diode laser. Combining our result with atomic structure calculations yields $1.20\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01$ s for the lifetime of $3d{}^{2}{D}_{3/2}.$ We also use quantum jump observations to demonstrate photon antibunching, and to estimate background pressure and heating rates in the ion trap.We report a measurement of the lifetime of the $3d{}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ metastable level in ${}^{40}{\mathrm{Ca}}^{+},$ using quantum jumps of a single cold calcium ion in a linear Paul trap. The $4s{}^{2}{S}_{1/2}--3d{}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ transition is significant for single-ion optical frequency standards, astrophysical references, and tests of atomic structure calculations. We obtain $\ensuremath{\tau}=1.168\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.007$ s from observation of nearly $64000$ quantum jumps during $\ensuremath{\sim}32$ h. Our result is more precise and significantly larger than previous measurements. Experiments carried out to quantify systematic effects included a study of a previously unremarked source of systematic error, namely, excitation by the broad background of radiation emitted by a semiconductor diode laser. Combining our result with atomic structure calculations yields $1.20\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01$ s for the lifetime of $3d{}^{2}{D}_{3/2}.$ We also use quantum jump observations to demonstrate photon antibunching, and to estimate background pressure and heating rates in the ion trap.

arXiv:physics/0002026Physical Review AAug 14, 2000132 citations

Quantum jumps and the single trapped barium ion: Determination of collisional quenching rates for the 5 d2 D5/2 level

Alan A. Madej, J. D. Sankey

A single ${\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$ atom was confined in a radio-frequency ion trap and cooled by near-resonant laser light. Quantum jumps into and out of the metastable 5d $^{2}D_{5/2}$ level were observed that followed the expected exponential distribution in dark periods to good agreement. Measurement of quantum-jump distributions together with careful measurements of the absolute partial pressures of all residual gas species enabled accurate measurements of the quenched 5d $^{2}D_{5/2}$ lifetime as a function of quenching gas pressure. Measurements of quenching were observed at pressures where the mean collision rate was on the order of 1 ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. The results yielded quenching rate constants for the metastable level for a series of gases that typically make up the residual gas environment of ultra-high-vacuum systems ( ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ , He, ${\mathrm{CH}}_{4}$ , ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ O, CO, ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ , Ar, and ${\mathrm{CO}}_{2}$ ) together with an improved value of the ${5}^{2}$ ${\mathrm{D}}_{5/2}$ radiative lifetime of ${t}_{0}$ =34.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.5 s. The above quenching rate constants were then compared with classical ion-molecule collision theory. It was found that the quenching rates for molecular gases were comparable to the classical collision rates, while the rates for atomic gases were considerably lower.A single ${\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$ atom was confined in a radio-frequency ion trap and cooled by near-resonant laser light. Quantum jumps into and out of the metastable 5d $^{2}D_{5/2}$ level were observed that followed the expected exponential distribution in dark periods to good agreement. Measurement of quantum-jump distributions together with careful measurements of the absolute partial pressures of all residual gas species enabled accurate measurements of the quenched 5d $^{2}D_{5/2}$ lifetime as a function of quenching gas pressure. Measurements of quenching were observed at pressures where the mean collision rate was on the order of 1 ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. The results yielded quenching rate constants for the metastable level for a series of gases that typically make up the residual gas environment of ultra-high-vacuum systems (${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, He, ${\mathrm{CH}}_{4}$, ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$O, CO, ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$, Ar, and ${\mathrm{CO}}_{2}$) together with an improved value of the ${5}^{2}$${\mathrm{D}}_{5/2}$ radiative lifetime of ${t}_{0}$=34.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.5 s. The above quenching rate constants were then compared with classical ion-molecule collision theory. It was found that the quenching rates for molecular gases were comparable to the classical collision rates, while the rates for atomic gases were considerably lower.

Physical Review AMar 1, 199075 citations

Lifetime measurement of the metastable 4dD5∕22 state in Sr+88 using a single trapped ion

V. Letchumanan, M. A. Wilson, Patrick Robert Gill +1 more

The natural lifetime of the metastable $4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ state in $^{88}\mathrm{Sr}^{+}$ has been measured using a single laser-cooled, trapped ion. The ion was prepared in the $4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ state by laser excitation of the $5s\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}S_{1∕2}\ensuremath{-}4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ quadrupole transition at 674 nm. The decay time was measured by using Dehmelt's electron shelving method to monitor the ion's electronic state. Two separate investigations were conducted under slightly different experimental conditions. 160 000 decay times from the $4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ state were observed in total, and two different methods for determining the statistical value of the measured lifetime have been compared. Systematic effects have also been estimated, and including these effects yields a value of $\ensuremath{\tau}=390.8(1.6)\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{ms}$ ($1\ensuremath{\sigma}$ uncertainty) for the natural lifetime.The natural lifetime of the metastable $4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ state in $^{88}\mathrm{Sr}^{+}$ has been measured using a single laser-cooled, trapped ion. The ion was prepared in the $4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ state by laser excitation of the $5s\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}S_{1∕2}\ensuremath{-}4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ quadrupole transition at 674 nm. The decay time was measured by using Dehmelt's electron shelving method to monitor the ion's electronic state. Two separate investigations were conducted under slightly different experimental conditions. 160 000 decay times from the $4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ state were observed in total, and two different methods for determining the statistical value of the measured lifetime have been compared. Systematic effects have also been estimated, and including these effects yields a value of $\ensuremath{\tau}=390.8(1.6)\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{ms}$ ($1\ensuremath{\sigma}$ uncertainty) for the natural lifetime.

Physical Review AJul 13, 200539 citations

Branching fractions for P3/2 decays in Ba+

Zhiqiang Zhang, K. J. Arnold, Sapam Ranjita Chanu +3 more

Branching fractions for decays from the ${P}_{3/2}$ level in $^{138}\mathrm{Ba}^{+}$ have been measured with a single laser-cooled ion. Decay probabilities to ${S}_{1/2}$ , ${D}_{3/2}$ , and ${D}_{5/2}$ are determined to be 0.741716(71), 0.028031(23), and 0.230253(61), respectively, which are an order-of-magnitude improvement over previous results. Our methodology only involves optical pumping and state detection, and is hence relatively free of systematic effects. Measurements are carried out in two different ways to check for consistency. Our analysis also includes a measurement of the ${D}_{5/2}$ lifetime, for which we obtain 30.14(40) s.Branching fractions for decays from the ${P}_{3/2}$ level in $^{138}\mathrm{Ba}^{+}$ have been measured with a single laser-cooled ion. Decay probabilities to ${S}_{1/2}$, ${D}_{3/2}$, and ${D}_{5/2}$ are determined to be 0.741716(71), 0.028031(23), and 0.230253(61), respectively, which are an order-of-magnitude improvement over previous results. Our methodology only involves optical pumping and state detection, and is hence relatively free of systematic effects. Measurements are carried out in two different ways to check for consistency. Our analysis also includes a measurement of the ${D}_{5/2}$ lifetime, for which we obtain 30.14(40) s.

arXiv:2003.02263Physical Review AJun 24, 202016 citations

Lifetime measurement of the 5d2 D 5/2 state in Ba+

Amita Mohanty, Elwin Dijck, Mayerlin Nuñez Portela +5 more

The lifetime of the metastable 5d2 D 5/2 state has been measured for a single trapped Ba+ ion in a Paul trap in Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) in the 10−10 mbar pressure range. A total of 5046 individual periods when the ion was shelved in this state have been recorded. A preliminary value $\tau _{D_{5/2}} = 26.4(1.7)$ s is obtained through extrapolation to zero residual gas pressure.The lifetime of the metastable 5d2 D 5/2 state has been measured for a single trapped Ba+ ion in a Paul trap in Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) in the 10−10 mbar pressure range. A total of 5046 individual periods when the ion was shelved in this state have been recorded. A preliminary value $\tau _{D_{5/2}} = 26.4(1.7)$ s is obtained through extrapolation to zero residual gas pressure.

arXiv:1504.03023Hyperfine InteractionsApr 20, 20154 citations

The lifetime of the long-lived

5d{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}

level in

^{138}\mathrm{Ba}^{+}

ions was measured in trapped single ions and small ion crystals using continuous quantum jump spectroscopy. We find

{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{{D}_{5/2}}=25.6(0.5)\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\text{s}

We present a measurement of the branching fractions for decay from the long-lived

5{D}_{5/2}

level in

{^{138}\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}

. The branching fraction for decay into the

6{S}_{1/2}

ground state was found to be

0.846{(25)}_{\mathrm{stat}}{(4)}_{\mathrm{sys}}

. We also report an improved measurement of the

5{D}_{5/2}

lifetime, ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{5{D}_{5/2}}=31.2(0.9)$ s. Together these measurements provide an experimental determination of transition rates for decay out of the

5{D}_{5/2}

level. The low ($<7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}$ Torr) pressure in the ion trap in which these measurements were made simplified data acquisition and analysis. Comparison of the experimental results with theoretical predictions of the transition rates shows good agreement.

We report a measurement of the lifetime of the

3d{}^{2}{D}_{5/2}

metastable level in

{}^{40}{\mathrm{Ca}}^{+},

using quantum jumps of a single cold calcium ion in a linear Paul trap. The

4s{}^{2}{S}_{1/2}--3d{}^{2}{D}_{5/2}

transition is significant for single-ion optical frequency standards, astrophysical references, and tests of atomic structure calculations. We obtain $\ensuremath{\tau}=1.168\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.007$ s from observation of nearly

64000

quantum jumps during $\ensuremath{\sim}32$ h. Our result is more precise and significantly larger than previous measurements. Experiments carried out to quantify systematic effects included a study of a previously unremarked source of systematic error, namely, excitation by the broad background of radiation emitted by a semiconductor diode laser. Combining our result with atomic structure calculations yields $1.20\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01$ s for the lifetime of

3d{}^{2}{D}_{3/2}.

We also use quantum jump observations to demonstrate photon antibunching, and to estimate background pressure and heating rates in the ion trap.

A single

{\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}

atom was confined in a radio-frequency ion trap and cooled by near-resonant laser light. Quantum jumps into and out of the metastable 5d

^{2}D_{5/2}

level were observed that followed the expected exponential distribution in dark periods to good agreement. Measurement of quantum-jump distributions together with careful measurements of the absolute partial pressures of all residual gas species enabled accurate measurements of the quenched 5d

^{2}D_{5/2}

lifetime as a function of quenching gas pressure. Measurements of quenching were observed at pressures where the mean collision rate was on the order of 1 ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. The results yielded quenching rate constants for the metastable level for a series of gases that typically make up the residual gas environment of ultra-high-vacuum systems (

{\mathrm{H}}_{2}

, He,

{\mathrm{CH}}_{4}

{\mathrm{H}}_{2}

O, CO,

{\mathrm{N}}_{2}

, Ar, and

{\mathrm{CO}}_{2}

) together with an improved value of the

{5}^{2}

{\mathrm{D}}_{5/2}

radiative lifetime of

{t}_{0}

=34.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.5 s. The above quenching rate constants were then compared with classical ion-molecule collision theory. It was found that the quenching rates for molecular gases were comparable to the classical collision rates, while the rates for atomic gases were considerably lower.

The natural lifetime of the metastable

4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}

state in

^{88}\mathrm{Sr}^{+}

has been measured using a single laser-cooled, trapped ion. The ion was prepared in the

4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}

state by laser excitation of the $5s\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}S_{1∕2}\ensuremath{-}4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}$ quadrupole transition at 674 nm. The decay time was measured by using Dehmelt's electron shelving method to monitor the ion's electronic state. Two separate investigations were conducted under slightly different experimental conditions. 160 000 decay times from the

4d\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}D_{5∕2}

state were observed in total, and two different methods for determining the statistical value of the measured lifetime have been compared. Systematic effects have also been estimated, and including these effects yields a value of $\ensuremath{\tau}=390.8(1.6)\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{ms}$ ($1\ensuremath{\sigma}$ uncertainty) for the natural lifetime.

Branching fractions for decays from the

{P}_{3/2}

level in

^{138}\mathrm{Ba}^{+}

have been measured with a single laser-cooled ion. Decay probabilities to

{S}_{1/2}

{D}_{3/2}

, and

{D}_{5/2}

are determined to be 0.741716(71), 0.028031(23), and 0.230253(61), respectively, which are an order-of-magnitude improvement over previous results. Our methodology only involves optical pumping and state detection, and is hence relatively free of systematic effects. Measurements are carried out in two different ways to check for consistency. Our analysis also includes a measurement of the

{D}_{5/2}

lifetime, for which we obtain 30.14(40) s.

\tau _{D_{5/2}} = 26.4(1.7)

s is obtained through extrapolation to zero residual gas pressure.