2013/11/05 by Warrick G. Farr, Daniel L. Creedon, Farr, Warrick G. +7 · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Frequency and Time Standards #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #FOS: Physical sciences #Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci) #Quantum optics and atomic interactions
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1311.1049
openalex publication_date 2013/11/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Progress in the emerging field of engineered quantum systems requires the development of devices that can act as quantum memories. The realisation of such devices by doping solid state cavities with paramagnetic ions imposes a trade-off between ion concentration and cavity coherence time. Here, we investigate an alternative approach involving interactions between photons and naturally occurring impurity ions in ultra-pure crystalline microwave cavities exhibiting exceptionally high quality factors. We implement a hybrid Whispering Gallery/Electron Spin Resonance method to perform rigorous spectroscopy of an undoped single-crystal sapphire resonator over the frequency range 8--19 GHz, and at external applied DC magnetic fields up to 0.9 T. Measurements of a high purity sapphire cooled close to 100 mK reveal the presence of Fe3+, Cr3+, and V2+ impurities. A host of electron transitions are measured and identified, including the two-photon classically forbidden quadrupole transition (Δms =2) for Fe3+, as well as hyperfine transitions of V2+.