22–26 Nov 2021
AlbaNova Main Building
Europe/Stockholm timezone
Please note: ECTI 2021 will be held as a hybrid event.

Optical clocks with trapped Yb+ ions for autonomous operation

24 Nov 2021, 16:30
30m
Online via Zoom

Online via Zoom

invited talk online ECTI

Speaker

Nils Huntemann (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt)

Description

The talk summarizes our work on optical atomic clocks at PTB and in the quantum technology project opticlock [1] both employing trapped Yb+ ions. The 171Yb+ ion provides two atomic transitions that are well suited as a frequency reference: the S-D electric quadrupole (E2) transition at 436 nm and the S-F electric octupole (E3) transition at 467 nm. The latter is known for its yearslong excited state lifetime [2] and shows smaller sensitivity to external electric and magnetic fields. Consequently, smaller systematic uncertainties can be achieved with optical clocks based on the E3 reference transition [3], but their experimental complexity is significantly increased. Furthermore, the frequency ratio of the E3 and E2 transition is a sensitive measure for variations in the fine structure constant. Repeated measurements provide a test of local position invariance and we found the most stringent limits for temporal drifts and a potential coupling to gravity for the fine structure constant and the proton-to-electron mass ratio [4].
For applications beyond basic research, robust long-term operation is a particular requirement instead of the ultimate accuracy achieved with laboratory clock systems. In this context, we developed in collaboration with industry partners a demonstrator of an optical clock set up in two 19” racks that uses the E2 transition as the reference. This system recently demonstrated 14 days of operation with more than 99% availability enabled by fast optimization routines.
[1] www.opticlock.de
[2] R. Lange et al., PRL 127, 213001 (2021)
[3] C. Sanner et al., Nature 567, 204 (2019)
[4] R. Lange et al., PRL 126, 011102 (2021)

Primary author

Nils Huntemann (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt)

Presentation materials

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