Towards a nitrogen molecular ion clock for fundamental physics tests

Not scheduled
1m
Poster Molecular Spectroscopy Poster Session

Speaker

Laura Blackburn (University of Sussex)

Description

Many beyond-the-Standard Model theories predict that the fundamental constants may change in time and space. Potential changes in one of those constants, the proton-to-electron mass ratio μ, can be detected by comparing vibrational or rotational transitions in molecules to optical transitions in atoms. In our experiment, a vibrational transition in N$_2^+$ will be compared to atomic clocks within the QSNET network of quantum sensors [1]. The nitrogen ion will be co-trapped in a linear Paul trap with an auxiliary $^{40}$Ca$^+$ ion which will be used for ground state cooling and state detection via a quantum logic scheme. I will report on our recent progress on the experiment.

  1. G. Barontini et al., EPJ Quantum Technology 9, 12 (2022).
Academic level Postdoctoral researcher

Author

Laura Blackburn (University of Sussex)

Co-authors

Ms Amber Shepherd (University of Sussex) Prof. Matthias Keller (University of Sussex)

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