Enhancing Divalent Optical Atomic Clocks with the ¹S₀↔³P₂ Transition

2023/08/03 by M. Bohman, Bohman, Matthew A., S. G. Porsev +7
Decision Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Frequency and Time Standards #Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph) #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #FOS: Physical sciences #Scientific Measurement and Uncertainty Evaluation

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2308.02056

openalex publication_date 2023/08/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30

Abstract

Divalent atoms and ions with a singlet S ground state and triplet P excited state form the basis of many high-precision optical atomic clocks. Along with the metastable ³P₀ clock state, these atomic systems also have a nearby metastable ³P₂ state. We investigate the properties of the electric quadrupole ¹S₀↔³P₂ transition with a focus on enhancing already existing optical atomic clocks. In particular, we investigate the ¹S₀↔³P₂ transition in ²⁷Al⁺ and calculate the differential polarizability, hyperfine effects, and other relevant atomic properties. We also discuss potential applications of this transition, notably that it provides two transitions with different sensitivities to systematic effects in the same species. In addition, we describe how the ¹S₀↔³P₂ transition can be used to search for physics beyond the Standard Model and motivate investigation of this transition in other existing optical atomic clocks.

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