High-resolution spectroscopy of a single In+ ion: Progress towards an optical frequency standard
Abstract
The 5s2 1S0-->5s5p 3P0 transition of a single laser-cooled 115In+ ion in a miniature radiofrequency trap is investigated as a possible optical frequency standard. This line at a frequency of 1267 THz (wavelength 236.5 nm) is highly immune to frequency shifts due to external perturbations so that the expected systematic uncertainties can be reduced to the millihertz level. Experimentally, we obtained a fractional resolution Δν/ν=1.3×10-13 (linewidth 170 Hz), limited by the frequency instability of the laser used for excitation. The g factor and the lifetime of the metastable 3P0 level were measured as g(3P0)=-9.87(5)×10-4 and τ(3P0)=0.195(8) s. Both values are in good agreement with perturbative calculations, based on hyperfine mixing between the 1P and 3P levels.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review A
- Pub Date:
- May 2001
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevA.63.051802
- Bibcode:
- 2001PhRvA..63e1802B
- Keywords:
-
- 42.62.Fi;
- 06.20.Fn;
- 32.70.Cs;
- 32.80.Pj;
- Laser spectroscopy;
- Oscillator strengths lifetimes transition moments;
- Optical cooling of atoms;
- trapping