20 research outputs found
Controlling dipole-dipole frequency shifts in a lattice-based optical atomic clock
Motivated by the ideas of using cold alkaline earth atoms trapped in an
optical lattice for realization of optical atomic clocks, we investigate
theoretically the perturbative effects of atom-atom interactions on a clock
transition frequency. These interactions are mediated by the dipole fields
associated with the optically excited atoms. We predict resonance-like features
in the frequency shifts when constructive interference among atomic dipoles
occur. We theoretically demonstrate that by fine-tuning the coherent
dipole-dipole couplings in appropriately designed lattice geometries, the
undesirable frequency shifts can be greatly suppressed.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure
Doppler cooling and trapping on forbidden transitions
Ultracold atoms at temperatures close to the recoil limit have been achieved
by extending Doppler cooling to forbidden transitions. A cloud of ^40Ca atoms
has been cooled and trapped to a temperature as low as 6 \mu K by operating a
magneto-optical trap on the spin-forbidden intercombination transition.
Quenching the long-lived excited state with an additional laser enhanced the
scattering rate by a factor of 15, while a high selectivity in velocity was
preserved. With this method more than 10% of pre-cooled atoms from a standard
magneto-optical trap have been transferred to the ultracold trap. Monte-Carlo
simulations of the cooling process are in good agreement with the experiments
Fundamental Physical Constants: Looking from Different Angles
We consider fundamental physical constants which are among a few of the most
important pieces of information we have learned about Nature after its
intensive centuries-long studies. We discuss their multifunctional role in
modern physics including problems related to the art of measurement, natural
and practical units, origin of the constants, their possible calculability and
variability etc
Search for Possible Variation of the Fine Structure Constant
Determination of the fine structure constant alpha and search for its
possible variation are considered. We focus on a role of the fine structure
constant in modern physics and discuss precision tests of quantum
electrodynamics. Different methods of a search for possible variations of
fundamental constants are compared and those related to optical measurements
are considered in detail.Comment: An invited talk at HYPER symposium (Paris, 2002
Remote frequency measurement of the 1S0-3P1 transition in laser cooled Mg-24
We perform Ramsey-Bord\'e spectroscopy on laser-cooled magnesium atoms in
free fall to measure the 1S0 \rightarrow 3P1 intercombination transition
frequency. The measured value of 655 659 923 839 730 (48) Hz is consistent with
our former atomic beam measurement (Friebe et al 2008 Phys. Rev. A 78 033830).
We improve upon the fractional accuracy of the previous measurement by more
than an order of magnitude to 7e-14. The magnesium frequency standard was
referenced to a fountain clock of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt
(PTB) via a phase-stabilized telecom fiber link and its stability was
characterized for interrogation times up to 8000 s. The high temperature of the
atomic ensemble leads to a systematic shift due to the motion of atoms across
the spectroscopy beams. In our regime, this leads to a counterintuitive
reduction of residual Doppler shift with increasing resolution. Our theoretical
model of the atom-light interaction is in agreement with the observed effect
and allows us to quantify its contribution in the uncertainty budget.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures. Accepted in New Journal of Physic
Theory and applications of atomic and ionic polarizabilities
Atomic polarization phenomena impinge upon a number of areas and processes in
physics. The dielectric constant and refractive index of any gas are examples
of macroscopic properties that are largely determined by the dipole
polarizability. When it comes to microscopic phenomena, the existence of
alkaline-earth anions and the recently discovered ability of positrons to bind
to many atoms are predominantly due to the polarization interaction. An
imperfect knowledge of atomic polarizabilities is presently looming as the
largest source of uncertainty in the new generation of optical frequency
standards. Accurate polarizabilities for the group I and II atoms and ions of
the periodic table have recently become available by a variety of techniques.
These include refined many-body perturbation theory and coupled-cluster
calculations sometimes combined with precise experimental data for selected
transitions, microwave spectroscopy of Rydberg atoms and ions, refractive index
measurements in microwave cavities, ab initio calculations of atomic structures
using explicitly correlated wave functions, interferometry with atom beams, and
velocity changes of laser cooled atoms induced by an electric field. This
review examines existing theoretical methods of determining atomic and ionic
polarizabilities, and discusses their relevance to various applications with
particular emphasis on cold-atom physics and the metrology of atomic frequency
standards.Comment: Review paper, 44 page
Coherence of Spin-Polarized Fermions Interacting with a Clock Laser in a Stark-Shift-Free Optical Lattice
We investigated the coherence of spin-polarized ^{87}Sr atoms trapped in a
light-shift-free one-dimensional optical lattice during their interaction with
a clock laser on the ^1S_0-^3P_0 transition. Collapses and revivals appeared
for more than 50 Rabi cycles, attributed to the thermal distribution of
discrete vibrational states in the lattice potential. The population
oscillation in the clock states lasted more than 1s, demonstrating high
immunity from decoherence. This long atomic coherence suggests the feasibility
of Pauli blocking of collisions in optical clock excitation.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure