Physical Review Research

Precision determination of the 5dD3/22 state lifetime of single Yb+174 ion

H. Shao, H. Yue, Zhiyao Ma, Yao Huang, H. Guan, K. Gao

Published Jun 27, 2023• 9 citations

Abstract

We present a method to precisely determine the $^{2}D_{3/2}$ state lifetime of a single trapped $^{174}\mathrm{Yb}^{+}$ ion. This method is based on the detection of photons emitted from excited states, where a highly synchronized measurement sequence for laser control and an intensity-alternating sequence for atomic excitation and photon counting are used to minimize systematic errors. This method is easy to implement and is immune to fluctuations of magnetic field, laser intensity, and frequency detuning. Combined with the real-time approach of background photon correction, the radiative lifetime of the $^{2}D_{3/2}$ state is determined to be $54.83\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.18$ ms, which represents an order of magnitude improvement in measurement precision. The accurately determined lifetime sets a benchmark for many-body atomic theories and is particularly useful to determine the coherence time limit of the optical clock.

DOI: 10.1103/physrevresearch.5.023193

Related papers

Precision measurement of the 3dD3/22 –state lifetime in a single trapped Ca+40

H. Shao, Yao Huang, H. Guan +2 more

Physical Review AOct 10, 201617 citations

Precision determination of dipole transition elements with a single ion

H. Shao, Y.-B. Tang, H.-L. Yue +6 more

Photonics ResearchJul 23, 20242 citations

Precision determination of dipole transition matrix elements with a single trapped ion

Hua Guan

Oct 10, 20230 citations

High-Resolution Spectroscopy of $^{173}$Yb$^{+}$ Ions

J. Jiang, A. V. Viatkina, Saaswath JK +7 more

physics.atom-phCross-listedarXiv:2601.09585Physical Review LettersJan 15, 20261 citation

Measurement of the lifetime of the 6p P21/2o level of Yb+

Steven Olmschenk, David Hayes, Dzmitry Matsukevich +4 more

arXiv:0906.0586Physical Review AAug 10, 200957 citations

171 Yb + 5 D 3/2 hyperfine state detection and F = 2 lifetime

M. Schacht, J R Danielson, S Rahaman +3 more

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical PhysicsMar 11, 201513 citations

Physical Review Research

Precision determination of the 5dD3/22 state lifetime of single Yb+174 ion

H. Shao, H. Yue, Zhiyao Ma, Yao Huang, H. Guan, K. Gao

Published Jun 27, 2023• 9 citations

Publisher

Abstract

We present a method to precisely determine the

^{2}D_{3/2}

state lifetime of a single trapped

^{174}\mathrm{Yb}^{+}

ion. This method is based on the detection of photons emitted from excited states, where a highly synchronized measurement sequence for laser control and an intensity-alternating sequence for atomic excitation and photon counting are used to minimize systematic errors. This method is easy to implement and is immune to fluctuations of magnetic field, laser intensity, and frequency detuning. Combined with the real-time approach of background photon correction, the radiative lifetime of the

^{2}D_{3/2}

state is determined to be

54.83\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.18

ms, which represents an order of magnitude improvement in measurement precision. The accurately determined lifetime sets a benchmark for many-body atomic theories and is particularly useful to determine the coherence time limit of the optical clock.

DOI: 10.1103/physrevresearch.5.023193

Related papers

Precision measurement of the 3dD3/22 –state lifetime in a single trapped Ca+40

H. Shao, Yao Huang, H. Guan +2 more

We present a high-precision measurement of the $3d\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}$ --state lifetime in a single trapped $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}^{+}$ . The measurement was performed using a high-efficiency quantum-state detection technique to monitor quantum jumps and a high-precision and highly synchronous measurement sequence for laser control. A feature in our measurement is the pumping rate of the 729-nm laser that was corrected in a real-time way. The $3d\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}$ --state lifetime was obtained through the measurement of the spontaneous decay rate after incoherent shelving of the ion to the $3d\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}$ state with a wait time. Systematic errors, such as collisions with background gases, heating effects, impurity components, the shelving and pumping rates, and state detection, were carefully analyzed and estimated. We determined an improved value of the $3d\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}$ --state lifetime to be ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{3/2}=1.195(8)$ s. Furthermore, the $3d\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}4s\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}S_{1/2}$ quadrupole transition matrix element was measured to be ${S}_{ki}=7.936(26)e{a}_{0}^{2}$ , and the ratio between the lifetimes of $3d{\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{3/2}$ and $3d{\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ was determined to be 1.018(11). Our method can be universally applied to lifetime measurements of other single ions and atoms with a similar structure.We present a high-precision measurement of the $3d\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}$--state lifetime in a single trapped $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}^{+}$. The measurement was performed using a high-efficiency quantum-state detection technique to monitor quantum jumps and a high-precision and highly synchronous measurement sequence for laser control. A feature in our measurement is the pumping rate of the 729-nm laser that was corrected in a real-time way. The $3d\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}$--state lifetime was obtained through the measurement of the spontaneous decay rate after incoherent shelving of the ion to the $3d\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}$ state with a wait time. Systematic errors, such as collisions with background gases, heating effects, impurity components, the shelving and pumping rates, and state detection, were carefully analyzed and estimated. We determined an improved value of the $3d\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}$--state lifetime to be ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{3/2}=1.195(8)$ s. Furthermore, the $3d\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}4s\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}S_{1/2}$ quadrupole transition matrix element was measured to be ${S}_{ki}=7.936(26)e{a}_{0}^{2}$, and the ratio between the lifetimes of $3d{\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{3/2}$ and $3d{\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}$ was determined to be 1.018(11). Our method can be universally applied to lifetime measurements of other single ions and atoms with a similar structure.

Physical Review AOct 10, 201617 citations

Precision determination of dipole transition elements with a single ion

H. Shao, Y.-B. Tang, H.-L. Yue +6 more

In the field of quantum metrology, transition matrix elements are crucial for accurately evaluating the black-body radiation shift of the clock transition and the amplitude of the related parity-violating transition, and can be used as probes to test quantum electrodynamic effects, especially at the 10−3–10−4 level. We developed a universal experimental approach to precisely determine the dipole transition matrix elements by using the shelving technique, for the species where two transition channels are involved, in which the excitation pulses with increasing duration were utilized to induce shelving, and the resulting shelving probabilities were determined by counting the scattered photons from the excited P1/22 state to the S1/22 ground state. Using the scattered photons offers several advantages, including insensitivity to fluctuations in magnetic field, laser intensity, and frequency detuning. An intensity-alternating sequence to minimize detection noise and a real-time approach for background photon correction were implemented in parallel. We applied this technique to a single Yb+ ion, and determined the 6p P1/22-5d D23/2 transition matrix element 2.9979(20) ea0, which indicates an order of magnitude improvement over existing reports. By combining our result with the 6p P1/22 lifetime of 8.12(2) ns, we extracted the 6s S1/22-6p P1/22 transition matrix element to be 2.4703(31) ea0. The accurately determined dipole transition matrix elements can serve as a benchmark for the development of high-precision atomic many-body theoretical methods.In the field of quantum metrology, transition matrix elements are crucial for accurately evaluating the black-body radiation shift of the clock transition and the amplitude of the related parity-violating transition, and can be used as probes to test quantum electrodynamic effects, especially at the 10−3–10−4 level. We developed a universal experimental approach to precisely determine the dipole transition matrix elements by using the shelving technique, for the species where two transition channels are involved, in which the excitation pulses with increasing duration were utilized to induce shelving, and the resulting shelving probabilities were determined by counting the scattered photons from the excited P1/22 state to the S1/22 ground state. Using the scattered photons offers several advantages, including insensitivity to fluctuations in magnetic field, laser intensity, and frequency detuning. An intensity-alternating sequence to minimize detection noise and a real-time approach for background photon correction were implemented in parallel. We applied this technique to a single Yb+ ion, and determined the 6p P1/22-5d D23/2 transition matrix element 2.9979(20) ea0, which indicates an order of magnitude improvement over existing reports. By combining our result with the 6p P1/22 lifetime of 8.12(2) ns, we extracted the 6s S1/22-6p P1/22 transition matrix element to be 2.4703(31) ea0. The accurately determined dipole transition matrix elements can serve as a benchmark for the development of high-precision atomic many-body theoretical methods.

Photonics ResearchJul 23, 20242 citations

Precision determination of dipole transition matrix elements with a single trapped ion

Hua Guan

Abstract In the field of quantum metrology, transition matrix elements are crucial for accurately evaluating the black-body radiation shift and the parity-violating amplitude of the clock transition, and can be used as probes to test quantum electrodynamic effects, especially at the $10^{-3}$ - $10^{-4}$ level. We developed a universal experimental approach to precise determination of the dipole transition matrix element with a energy level of two transition channels at various atomic species by using the quantum shelving technique. In which, the time-increased pulses were utilized to induce quantum shelving, and the resulting shelving probabilities were determined by counting the scattered photons from the excited $^{2}\!P_{1/2}$ state to the $^{2}\!S_{1/2}$ ground state. Using the scattered photons offers several advantages, including insensitivity to fluctuations in magnetic field, laser intensity, and frequency detuning. An intensity-alternating sequence to minimize detection noise and a real-time approach for background photon correction were implemented in parallel. We applied this method to single Yb $^+$ ion, and determined the $6p~^{2}\!P_{1/2}$ - $5d~^{2}\!D_{3/2}$ transition matrix element of 2.9395(21)~ $ea_{0}$ , which represents an order of magnitude improvement over previous determination. By combining our result with the $6p~^{2}\!P_{1/2}$ lifetime of 8.12(2)~ns, we extracted the $6s~^{2}\!S_{1/2}$ - $6p~^{2}\!P_{1/2}$ transition matrix element to be 2.4695(31)~ $ea_{0}$ .Abstract In the field of quantum metrology, transition matrix elements are crucial for accurately evaluating the black-body radiation shift and the parity-violating amplitude of the clock transition, and can be used as probes to test quantum electrodynamic effects, especially at the $10^{-3}$-$10^{-4}$ level. We developed a universal experimental approach to precise determination of the dipole transition matrix element with a energy level of two transition channels at various atomic species by using the quantum shelving technique. In which, the time-increased pulses were utilized to induce quantum shelving, and the resulting shelving probabilities were determined by counting the scattered photons from the excited $^{2}\!P_{1/2}$ state to the $^{2}\!S_{1/2}$ ground state. Using the scattered photons offers several advantages, including insensitivity to fluctuations in magnetic field, laser intensity, and frequency detuning. An intensity-alternating sequence to minimize detection noise and a real-time approach for background photon correction were implemented in parallel. We applied this method to single Yb$^+$ ion, and determined the $6p~^{2}\!P_{1/2}$ - $5d~^{2}\!D_{3/2}$ transition matrix element of 2.9395(21)~$ea_{0}$, which represents an order of magnitude improvement over previous determination. By combining our result with the $6p~^{2}\!P_{1/2}$ lifetime of 8.12(2)~ns, we extracted the $6s~^{2}\!S_{1/2}$ - $6p~^{2}\!P_{1/2}$ transition matrix element to be 2.4695(31)~$ea_{0}$.

Oct 10, 20230 citations

High-Resolution Spectroscopy of $^{173}$ Yb $^{+}$ IonsHigh-Resolution Spectroscopy of $^{173}$Yb$^{+}$ Ions

J. Jiang, A. V. Viatkina, Saaswath JK +7 more

Compared to other stable isotopes of $\rm{Yb}^+$ , $^{173}\rm{Yb}^+$ has a richer hyperfine structure, which leads to more favorable clock transitions, spectroscopic techniques for probing new physics, and more sophisticated quantum computing architectures. However, to date, its electronic spectrum remains poorly characterized. Here, we report on efficient laser cooling, state preparation, and detection of a single trapped $^{173}\rm{Yb}^+$ ion. The previously unobserved $^2\!S_{1/2} \rightarrow {}^2\!D_{3/2}$ electric quadrupole transition at 436 nm is coherently excited, and the isotope shift between $^{171}\rm{Yb}^+$ and $^{173}\rm{Yb}^+$ on this transition is determined with an uncertainty of 1.4 Hz. Using microwave spectroscopy, we resolve the hyperfine structure (HFS) of the ${}^2\!D_{3/2}$ state with a relative uncertainty below $10^{-8}$ . From the HFS measurement data, we infer for ${}^{173}$ Yb a nuclear magnetic octupole moment $Ω= -0.062(8)\,({\rm b} \times μ_N)$ with uncertainty reduced by more than 2 orders of magnitude compared to previous studies. The data also allow us to determine hyperfine anomalies for the ${}^2\!S_{1/2}$ and ${}^2\!D_{3/2}$ states.Compared to other stable isotopes of $\rm{Yb}^+$, $^{173}\rm{Yb}^+$ has a richer hyperfine structure, which leads to more favorable clock transitions, spectroscopic techniques for probing new physics, and more sophisticated quantum computing architectures. However, to date, its electronic spectrum remains poorly characterized. Here, we report on efficient laser cooling, state preparation, and detection of a single trapped $^{173}\rm{Yb}^+$ ion. The previously unobserved $^2\!S_{1/2} \rightarrow {}^2\!D_{3/2}$ electric quadrupole transition at 436 nm is coherently excited, and the isotope shift between $^{171}\rm{Yb}^+$ and $^{173}\rm{Yb}^+$ on this transition is determined with an uncertainty of 1.4 Hz. Using microwave spectroscopy, we resolve the hyperfine structure (HFS) of the ${}^2\!D_{3/2}$ state with a relative uncertainty below $10^{-8}$. From the HFS measurement data, we infer for ${}^{173}$Yb a nuclear magnetic octupole moment $Ω= -0.062(8)\,({\rm b} \times μ_N)$ with uncertainty reduced by more than 2 orders of magnitude compared to previous studies. The data also allow us to determine hyperfine anomalies for the ${}^2\!S_{1/2}$ and ${}^2\!D_{3/2}$ states.

physics.atom-phCross-listedarXiv:2601.09585Physical Review LettersJan 15, 20261 citation

Measurement of the lifetime of the 6p P21/2o level of Yb+

Steven Olmschenk, David Hayes, Dzmitry Matsukevich +4 more

We present a precise measurement of the lifetime of the $6p\text{ }{^{2}P}_{1/2}^{o}$ excited state of a single trapped ytterbium ion $({\text{Yb}}^{+})$ . A time-correlated single-photon counting technique is used, where ultrafast pulses excite the ion and the emitted photons are coupled into a single-mode optical fiber. By performing the measurement on a single atom with fast excitation and excellent spatial filtering, we are able to eliminate common systematics. The lifetime of the $6p\text{ }{^{2}P}_{1/2}^{o}$ state is measured to be $8.12\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02\text{ }\text{ns}$, in good agreement with previous experimental measurements and some theoretical values.We present a precise measurement of the lifetime of the $6p\text{ }{^{2}P}_{1/2}^{o}$ excited state of a single trapped ytterbium ion $({\text{Yb}}^{+})$. A time-correlated single-photon counting technique is used, where ultrafast pulses excite the ion and the emitted photons are coupled into a single-mode optical fiber. By performing the measurement on a single atom with fast excitation and excellent spatial filtering, we are able to eliminate common systematics. The lifetime of the $6p\text{ }{^{2}P}_{1/2}^{o}$ state is measured to be $8.12\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02\text{ }\text{ns}$, in good agreement with previous experimental measurements and some theoretical values.

arXiv:0906.0586Physical Review AAug 10, 200957 citations

171 Yb + 5 D 3/2 hyperfine state detection and F = 2 lifetime

M. Schacht, J R Danielson, S Rahaman +3 more

Abstract We report on measurements of the lifetime of the state in single ions confined in a radiofrequency quadrupole trap. Experimental parameters that affect hyperfine state preparation and detection efficiency are characterized and optimized. A set of wait times for optimal sampling of the lifetime is chosen and used to measure that lifetime with high statistical sensitivity. A systematic variation in this lifetime seems to be apparent. The source of the variation was not identified, but ion number and cooling rate appear to be ruled out. A net determination is made of ms which is significantly longer than other measurements of the same quantity with four times better statistical precision than the most recent measurement. An alternate shelving scheme is proposed that would provide S – D state discrimination for Yb + even isotopes as well as improved sensitivity for D state hyperfine discrimination in odd isotopes.Abstract We report on measurements of the lifetime of the state in single ions confined in a radiofrequency quadrupole trap. Experimental parameters that affect hyperfine state preparation and detection efficiency are characterized and optimized. A set of wait times for optimal sampling of the lifetime is chosen and used to measure that lifetime with high statistical sensitivity. A systematic variation in this lifetime seems to be apparent. The source of the variation was not identified, but ion number and cooling rate appear to be ruled out. A net determination is made of ms which is significantly longer than other measurements of the same quantity with four times better statistical precision than the most recent measurement. An alternate shelving scheme is proposed that would provide S – D state discrimination for Yb + even isotopes as well as improved sensitivity for D state hyperfine discrimination in odd isotopes.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical PhysicsMar 11, 201513 citations

We present a method to precisely determine the

^{2}D_{3/2}

state lifetime of a single trapped

^{174}\mathrm{Yb}^{+}

^{2}D_{3/2}

state is determined to be

54.83\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.18

We present a high-precision measurement of the

3d\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}

--state lifetime in a single trapped

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

. The measurement was performed using a high-efficiency quantum-state detection technique to monitor quantum jumps and a high-precision and highly synchronous measurement sequence for laser control. A feature in our measurement is the pumping rate of the 729-nm laser that was corrected in a real-time way. The

3d\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}

--state lifetime was obtained through the measurement of the spontaneous decay rate after incoherent shelving of the ion to the

3d\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}

state with a wait time. Systematic errors, such as collisions with background gases, heating effects, impurity components, the shelving and pumping rates, and state detection, were carefully analyzed and estimated. We determined an improved value of the

3d\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}

--state lifetime to be ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{3/2}=1.195(8)$ s. Furthermore, the $3d\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}D_{3/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}4s\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}^{2}S_{1/2}$ quadrupole transition matrix element was measured to be

{S}_{ki}=7.936(26)e{a}_{0}^{2}

, and the ratio between the lifetimes of

3d{\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{3/2}

and

3d{\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}}^{2}{D}_{5/2}

was determined to be 1.018(11). Our method can be universally applied to lifetime measurements of other single ions and atoms with a similar structure.

10^{-3}

10^{-4}

level. We developed a universal experimental approach to precise determination of the dipole transition matrix element with a energy level of two transition channels at various atomic species by using the quantum shelving technique. In which, the time-increased pulses were utilized to induce quantum shelving, and the resulting shelving probabilities were determined by counting the scattered photons from the excited

^{2}\!P_{1/2}

state to the

^{2}\!S_{1/2}

ground state. Using the scattered photons offers several advantages, including insensitivity to fluctuations in magnetic field, laser intensity, and frequency detuning. An intensity-alternating sequence to minimize detection noise and a real-time approach for background photon correction were implemented in parallel. We applied this method to single Yb

^+

ion, and determined the

6p~^{2}\!P_{1/2}

5d~^{2}\!D_{3/2}

transition matrix element of 2.9395(21)~

ea_{0}

, which represents an order of magnitude improvement over previous determination. By combining our result with the

6p~^{2}\!P_{1/2}

lifetime of 8.12(2)~ns, we extracted the

6s~^{2}\!S_{1/2}

6p~^{2}\!P_{1/2}

transition matrix element to be 2.4695(31)~

ea_{0}

High-Resolution Spectroscopy of

^{173}

^{+}

Ions

Compared to other stable isotopes of

\rm{Yb}^+

^{173}\rm{Yb}^+

has a richer hyperfine structure, which leads to more favorable clock transitions, spectroscopic techniques for probing new physics, and more sophisticated quantum computing architectures. However, to date, its electronic spectrum remains poorly characterized. Here, we report on efficient laser cooling, state preparation, and detection of a single trapped

^{173}\rm{Yb}^+

ion. The previously unobserved

^2\!S_{1/2} \rightarrow {}^2\!D_{3/2}

electric quadrupole transition at 436 nm is coherently excited, and the isotope shift between

^{171}\rm{Yb}^+

and

^{173}\rm{Yb}^+

on this transition is determined with an uncertainty of 1.4 Hz. Using microwave spectroscopy, we resolve the hyperfine structure (HFS) of the

{}^2\!D_{3/2}

state with a relative uncertainty below

10^{-8}

. From the HFS measurement data, we infer for

{}^{173}

Yb a nuclear magnetic octupole moment

Ω= -0.062(8)\,({\rm b} \times μ_N)

with uncertainty reduced by more than 2 orders of magnitude compared to previous studies. The data also allow us to determine hyperfine anomalies for the

{}^2\!S_{1/2}

and

{}^2\!D_{3/2}

states.

We present a precise measurement of the lifetime of the

6p\text{ }{^{2}P}_{1/2}^{o}

excited state of a single trapped ytterbium ion

({\text{Yb}}^{+})

. A time-correlated single-photon counting technique is used, where ultrafast pulses excite the ion and the emitted photons are coupled into a single-mode optical fiber. By performing the measurement on a single atom with fast excitation and excellent spatial filtering, we are able to eliminate common systematics. The lifetime of the

6p\text{ }{^{2}P}_{1/2}^{o}

state is measured to be $8.12\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02\text{ }\text{ns}$, in good agreement with previous experimental measurements and some theoretical values.