21 research outputs found
X-ray frequency combs from optically controlled resonance fluorescence
An x-ray pulse-shaping scheme is put forward for imprinting an optical
frequency comb onto the radiation emitted on a driven x-ray transition, thus
producing an x-ray frequency comb. A four-level system is used to describe the
level structure of N ions driven by narrow-bandwidth x rays, an optical
auxiliary laser, and an optical frequency comb. By including many-particle
enhancement of the emitted resonance fluorescence, a spectrum is predicted
consisting of equally spaced narrow lines which are centered on an x-ray
transition energy and separated by the same tooth spacing as the driving
optical frequency comb. Given a known x-ray reference frequency, our comb could
be employed to determine an unknown x-ray frequency. While relying on the
quality of the light fields used to drive the ensemble of ions, the model has
validity at energies from the 100 eV to the keV range.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figure
Broadband high-resolution x-ray frequency combs
Optical frequency combs have had a remarkable impact on precision
spectroscopy. Enabling this technology in the x-ray domain is expected to
result in wide-ranging applications, such as stringent tests of astrophysical
models and quantum electrodynamics, a more sensitive search for the variability
of fundamental constants, and precision studies of nuclear structure.
Ultraprecise x-ray atomic clocks may also be envisaged. In this work, an x-ray
pulse-shaping method is put forward to generate a comb in the absorption
spectrum of an ultrashort high-frequency pulse. The method employs an
optical-frequency-comb laser, manipulating the system's dipole response to
imprint a comb on an excited transition with a high photon energy. The
described scheme provides higher comb frequencies and requires lower
optical-comb peak intensities than currently explored methods, preserves the
overall width of the optical comb, and may be implemented by presently
available x-ray technology
Dense monoenergetic proton beams from chirped laser-plasma interaction
Interaction of a frequency-chirped laser pulse with single protons and a
hydrogen plasma cell is studied analytically and by means of particle-in-cell
simulations, respectively. Feasibility of generating ultra-intense (10^7
particles per bunch) and phase-space collimated beams of protons (energy spread
of about 1 %) is demonstrated. Phase synchronization of the protons and the
laser field, guaranteed by the appropriate chirping of the laser pulse, allows
the particles to gain sufficient kinetic energy (around 250 MeV) required for
such applications as hadron cancer therapy, from state-of-the-art laser systems
of intensities of the order of 10^21 W/cm^2.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Detection of metastable electronic states by Penning trap mass spectrometry
State-of-the-art optical clocks achieve fractional precisions of
and below using ensembles of atoms in optical lattices or individual ions in
radio-frequency traps. Promising candidates for novel clocks are highly charged
ions (HCIs) and nuclear transitions, which are largely insensitive to external
perturbations and reach wavelengths beyond the optical range, now becoming
accessible to frequency combs. However, insufficiently accurate atomic
structure calculations still hinder the identification of suitable transitions
in HCIs. Here, we report on the discovery of a long-lived metastable electronic
state in a HCI by measuring the mass difference of the ground and the excited
state in Re, the first non-destructive, direct determination of an electronic
excitation energy. This result agrees with our advanced calculations, and we
confirmed them with an Os ion with the same electronic configuration. We used
the high-precision Penning-trap mass spectrometer PENTATRAP, unique in its
synchronous use of five individual traps for simultaneous mass measurements.
The cyclotron frequency ratio of the ion in the ground state to the
metastable state could be determined to a precision of , unprecedented in the heavy atom regime. With a lifetime of about 130
days, the potential soft x-ray frequency reference at has a linewidth of only , and one of the highest electronic quality factor
() ever seen in an experiment. Our low
uncertainty enables searching for more HCI soft x-ray clock transitions, needed
for promising precision studies of fundamental physics in a thus far unexplored
frontier
Benchmarking High-Field Few-Electron Correlation and QED Contributions in Hg⁷⁵⁺ to Hg⁷⁸⁺ Ions. II. Theory
Theoretical resonance energies for KLL dielectronic recombination into He-, Li-, Be-, and B-like Hg ions are calculated by various means and discussed in detail. We apply the multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock and the configuration interaction Dirac-Fock-Sturmian methods, and quantum electrodynamic many-body theory. The different contributions such as relativistic electron interaction, quantum electrodynamic contributions, and finite nuclear size and mass corrections are calculated and their respective theoretical uncertainties are estimated. Our final results are compared to experimental data from the preceding paper. The comparison of theoretical values with the experimental energies shows a good overall agreement for most transitions and illustrates the significance of relativistic electron interaction contributions including correlation, magnetic, and retardation effects and quantum electrodynamic corrections. A few discrepancies found in specific recombination resonances for initially Li- and Be-like Hg ions are pointed out, suggesting the need for further theoretical and experimental studies along these isoelectronic sequences
Correlation and Quantum Electrodynamic Effects on the Radiative Lifetime and Relativistic Nuclear Recoil in Ar¹³⁺ and Ar¹⁴⁺ Ions
The radiative lifetime and mass isotope shift of the 1s22s22p 2P3/2 - 2P1/2 M1 transition in Ar13+ ions have been determined with high accuracies using the Heidelberg electron beam ion trap. This fundamentally relativistic transition provides unique possibilities for performing precise studies of correlation and quantum electrodynamic effects in many-electron systems. The lifetime corresponding to the transition has been measured with an accuracy of the order of one per thousand. Theoretical calculations predict a lifetime that is in significant disagreement with this high-precision experimental value. Our mass shift calculations, based on a fully relativistic formulation of the nuclear recoil operator, are in excellent agreement with the experimental results and cofirm the absolute necessity to include relativistic recoil corrections when evaluating mass shift contributions even in medium-Z ions
Benchmarking High-Field Few-Electron Correlation and QED Contributions in Hg⁷⁵⁺ to Hg⁷⁸⁺ Ions. I. Experiment
The photorecombination of highly charged few-electron mercury ions Hg75+ to Hg78+ has been explored with the Heidelberg electron beam ion trap. By monitoring the emitted x rays (65-76 keV) and scanning the electron beam energy (45-54 keV) over the KLL dielectronic recombination (DR) region, the energies of state-selected DR resonances were determined to within ±4 eV (relative) and ±14 eV (absolute). At this level of experimental accuracy, it becomes possible to make a detailed comparison to various theoretical approaches and methods, all of which include quantum electrodynamic (QED) effects and finite nuclear size contributions (for a 1s electron, these effects can be as large as 160 and 50 eV, respectively). In He-like Hg78+, a good agreement between the experimental results and the calculations has been found. However, for the capture into Li-, Be-, and B-like ions, significant discrepancies have been observed for specific levels. The discrepancies suggest the need for further theoretical and experimental studies with other heavy ions along these isoelectronic sequences
Relativistic Electron Correlation, Quantum Electrodynamics, and the Lifetime of the 1s²2s²2p²P\u3csup\u3eo\u3c/sup\u3e\u3csub\u3e3/2\u3c/sub\u3e Level in Boronlike Argon
The lifetime of the Ar13+ 1s22s22p2Po3/2 metastable level was determined at the Heidelberg Electron Beam Ion Trap to be 9.573(4)(5)ms(stat)(syst). The accuracy level of one per thousand makes this measurement sensitive to quantum electrodynamic effects like the electron anomalous magnetic moment (EAMM) and to relativistic electron-electron correlation effects like the frequency-dependent Breit interaction. Theoretical predictions, adjusted for the EAMM, cluster about a lifetime that is approximately 3σ shorter than our experimental result
Isotope Shift in the Dielectronic Recombination of Three-electron \u3csup\u3eA\u3c/sup\u3eNd⁵⁷⁺
Isotope shifts in dielectronic recombination spectra were studied for Li-like ANd57+ ions with A = 142 and A = 150. From the displacement of resonance positions energy shifts δE142 150(2s-2p1/2) = 40.2(3)(6) meV [(stat)(sys)] and δE142 150(2s - 2p3/2) = 42.3(12)(20)meV of 2s - 2pj transitions were deduced. An evaluation of these values within a full QED treatment yields a change in the mean-square charge radius of 142 150δ⟨ r2⟩ = -1.36(1)(3) fm2. The approach is conceptually new and combines the advantage of a simple atomic structure with high sensitivity to nuclear size
Structural trends in atomic nuclei from laser spectroscopy of tin
Tin is the chemical element with the largest number of stable isotopes. Its complete proton shell, comparable with the closed electron shells in the chemically inert noble gases, is not a mere precursor to extended stability; since the protons carry the nuclear charge, their spatial arrangement also drives the nuclear electromagnetism. We report high-precision measurements of the electromagnetic moments and isomeric differences in charge radii between the lowest 1/2(+), 3/2(+), and 11/2(-) states in Sn117-131, obtained by collinear laser spectroscopy. Supported by state-of-the-art atomic-structure calculations, the data accurately show a considerable attenuation of the quadrupole moments in the closed-shell tin isotopes relative to those of cadmium, with two protons less. Linear and quadratic mass-dependent trends are observed. While microscopic density functional theory explains the global behaviour of the measured quantities, interpretation of the local patterns demands higher-fidelity modelling. Measurements of the hyperfine structure of chemical elements isotopes provide unique insight into the atomic nucleus in a nuclear model-independent way. The authors present collinear laser spectroscopy data obtained at the CERN ISOLDE and measure hyperfine splitting along a long chain of odd-mass tin isotopes.Peer reviewe