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Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics

Optical Clocks with Trapped Ions: Atomic and Nuclear Clocks

E. Peik

Published Jan 1, 2022• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Progress on optical clocks with laser cooled trapped ions is presented with a focus on two systems that both possess small systematic uncertainties and a high sensitivity in fundamental tests: The 171Yb+ ion with an E3 transition and the 229Th3+ ion with a low-energy nuclear transition.
DOI
10.1364/cleo_si.2022.stu5o.5

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An optical clock or frequency standard based on the interrogation of an atomic transition in the optical domain, operates at ~1014Hz is capable of providing orders of magnitude better accuracy than the present primary standard of frequency or time operating in the microwave range. Optical transitions of an ions, confined within a radio frequency ion trap and laser cooled to ~mK temperature, provides better long term stability since they are free from Coulomb and intra-atomic interactions. Optical frequency standards have been realized with several ions, e.g.,199Hg+,171Yb+,115In+,88Sr+,40Ca+,27Al+and among those171Y+has multiple ultra-narrow optical transitions suitable for serving as frequency standards [1-2].
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