Radium single-ion optical clock

2011/02/24 by O. O. Versolato, L. W. Wansbeek, Versolato, O. O. +12
Decision Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Frequency and Time Standards #Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph) #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #FOS: Physical sciences #Scientific Measurement and Uncertainty Evaluation #physics.atom-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1102.4988

20 pages, 1 figure

arxiv created 2011/02/24 · openalex publication_date 2011/02/24 · arxiv updated 2011/02/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

We explore the potential of the electric quadrupole transitions 7s ²S_1/2 - 6d ²D_3/2, 6d ²D_5/2 in radium isotopes as single-ion optical frequency standards. The frequency shifts of the clock transitions due to external fields and the corresponding uncertainties are calculated. Several competitive ^ARa⁺ candidates with A= 223 - 229 are identified. In particular, we show that the transition 7s ²S_1/2 (F=2,m_F=0) - 6d ²D_3/2 (F=0,m_F=0) at 828 nm in ²²³Ra⁺, with no linear Zeeman and electric quadrupole shifts, stands out as a relatively simple case, which could be exploited as a compact, robust, and low-cost atomic clock operating at a fractional frequency uncertainty of 10^-17. With more experimental effort, the ^223,225,226Ra⁺ clocks could be pushed to a projected performance reaching the 10^-18 level.

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