arXiv subjects

V. A. Dzuba

Publications and source records attributed to V. A. Dzuba.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Using optical clock transitions in Cu II and Yb III for time-keeping and search for new physics

We study the $^1$S$_0 - ^3$D$_2$ and $^1$S$_0 - ^3$D$_3$ transitions in Cu II and the $^1$S$_0 - ^3$P$^{\rm o}_2$ transition in Yb III as possible candidates for the optical clock transitions. A recently developed version of the configuration (CI) method, designed for a large number of electrons above closed-shell core, is used to carry out the calculation. We calculate excitation energies, transition rates, lifetimes, scalar static polarizabilities of the ground and clock states, and blackbody radiation shift. We demonstrate that the considered transitions have all features of the clock transition leading to prospects of highly accurate measurements. Search for new physics, such as time variation of the fine structure constant, is also investigated.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2021

Atomic ionization by scalar dark matter and solar scalars

We calculate the cross-sections of atomic ionization by absorption of scalar particles in the energy range from a few eV to 100 keV. We consider both nonrelativistic particles (dark matter candidates) and relativistic particles which may be produced inside Sun. We provide numerical results for atoms relevant for direct dark matter searches (O, Na, Ar, Ca, Ge, I, Xe, W and Tl). We identify a crucial flaw in previous calculations and show that they overestimated the ionization cross sections by several orders of magnitude due to violation of the orthogonality of the bound and continuum electron wave functions. Using our computed cross-sections, we interpret the recent data from the Xenon1T experiment, establishing the first direct bounds on coupling of scalars to electrons. We argue that the Xenon1T excess can be explained by the emission of scalars from the Sun. While our finding is in a similar tension with astrophysical bounds as the solar axion hypothesis, we establish direct limits on scalar DM for the $\sim 1-10\,\mathrm{keV}$ mass range. We also update axio-ionization cross-sections. Numerical data files are provided.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Nuclear deformation as a source of the non-linearity of King plot in the Yb$^+$ ion

We perform atomic relativistic many-body calculations of the field isotope shifts and calculations of corresponding nuclear parameters for all stable even-even isotopes of Yb$^+$ ion. We demonstrate that if we take nuclear parameters of the Yb isotopes from a range of the state-the-art nuclear models which all predict strong quadrupole nuclear deformation, then calculated non-linearity of the King plot, caused by the difference in the deformation in different isotopes, is consistent with the non-linearity observed in the experiment (Ian Counts {\em et al}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 125}, 123002 (2020)). The changes of nuclear RMS radius between isotopes extracted from experiment are consistent with those obtained in the nuclear calculations.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2020

Improved limits on axion-like-particle-mediated P,T-violating interactions between electrons and nucleons from electric dipole moments of atoms and molecules

In the presence of P,T-violating interactions, the exchange of axion-like particles between electrons and nucleons in atoms and molecules induces electric dipole moments (EDMs) of atoms and molecules. We perform calculations of such axion-exchange-induced atomic EDMs using the relativistic Hartree-Fock-Dirac method including electron core polarisation (RPA) corrections. We present analytical estimates to explain the dependence of these induced atomic EDMs on the axion mass and atomic parameters. From the experimental bounds on the EDMs of atoms and molecules, including $^{133}$Cs, $^{205}$Tl, $^{129}$Xe, $^{199}$Hg, $^{171}$Yb$^{19}$F, $^{180}$Hf$^{19}$F$^+$ and $^{232}$Th$^{16}$O, we constrain the P,T-violating scalar-pseudoscalar nucleon-electron and electron-electron interactions mediated by a generic axion-like particle of arbitrary mass. Our limits improve on existing laboratory bounds from other experiments by many orders of magnitude for $m_a \gtrsim 10^{-2}~\textrm{eV}$. We also place constraints on CP violation in certain types of relaxion models.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2020

Time keeping and searching for new physics using metastable states of Cu, Ag and Au

We study the prospects of using the electric quadrupole transitions from the ground states of Cu, Ag and Au to the metastable state $^2{\rm D}_{5/2}$ as clock transitions in optical lattice clocks. We calculate lifetimes, transition rates, systematic shifts, and demonstrate that the fractional uncertainty of the clocks can be similar to what is achieved in the best current optical clocks. The use of these proposed clocks for the search of new physics, such as time variation of the fine structure constant, search for low-mass scalar dark matter, violation of Local Position Invariance and violation of Lorenz Invariance is discussed.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2020

Theoretical study of electronic structure of erbium and fermium

We use a recently developed version of the configuration method for open shells to study electronic structure of erbium and fermium atoms. We calculate excitation energies of odd states connected to the even ground state by electric dipole transitions, the corresponding transition rates, isotope shift, hyperfine structure, ionization potentials and static scalar polarizabilities. We argue that measuring isotope shift for several transitions can be used to study nuclear deformation in even-even nuclei. This is important for testing nuclear theory and for searching for the hypothetical island of stability. Since erbium and fermium have similar electronic structures, calculations for erbium serve as a guide to the accuracy of the calculations.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2020

Calculations of the atomic structure for the low-lying states of actinium

We employ a technique that combines the configuration interaction method with the singles-doubles coupled-cluster method to perform calculation of the energy levels, transition amplitudes, lifetimes, g-factors, and magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole hyperfine structure constants for many low-lying states of neutral actinium. We find very good agreement with existing experimental energy levels and make accurate predictions for missing levels. It has been noted that some of the levels have been previously misidentified; our analysis supports this claim. If spectroscopy is performed with actinium-225, our calculations will lead to values for nuclear structure constants. The accuracy of this can be constrained by comparing with actinium-227.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2020

Sympathetic cooling of $^{113}$Cd$^+$ by laser-cooled $^{40}$Ca$^+$ in a linear Paul trap for Microwave Ion Clocks

We report sympathetic cooling of $^{113}$Cd$^+$ by laser-cooled $^{40}$Ca$^+$ in a linear Paul trap for microwave clocks. Long-term low-temperature confinement of $^{113}$Cd$^+$ ions was achieved. The temperature of these ions was measured at $90(10)$ mK, and the corresponding uncertainty arising from the second-order Doppler shifts was estimated to a level of $2\times10^{-17}$. Up to $4.2\times10^5$ Cd$^+$ ions were confined in the trap, and the confinement time constant was measured to be 84 hours. After three hours of confinement, there were still $10^5$ Cd$^+$ ions present, indicating that this Ca$^+$--Cd$^+$ dual ion system is surprisingly stable. The ac Stark shift was induced by the Ca$^+$ lasers and fluorescence, which was carefully estimated to an accuracy of $5.4(0.5)\times10^{-17}$ using a high-accuracy \textit{ab initio} approach. The Dick-effect-limited Allan deviation was also deduced because deadtimes were shorter. These results indicate that a microwave clock based on this sympathetic cooling scheme holds promise in providing ultra-high frequency accuracy and stability.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2020

Electric dipole moments of atoms and molecules produced by enhanced nuclear Schiff moments

We perform calculations of the CP-violating atomic and molecular electric dipole moments (EDM) induced by the interaction of the nuclear Schiff moments with electrons. EDM of atoms Eu, Dy, Gd, Ac, Th, Pa, U, Np and Pu are of special interest since they have isotopes with strongly enhanced nuclear Schiff moments caused by the octupole nuclear deformation or soft octupole vibration mode. These atoms have open 4f or 5f shells making the calculations complicated. We use our special version of the configuration interaction method combined with the many-body perturbation theory method adopted for open f-shell case. To validate the method we perform similar calculations for simpler atoms (Xe, Hg, Tl+, Pb, Pb++, Rn, Ra) where some earlier results are available. In addition we present the estimates of the CP-violating nuclear spin - molecular axis interaction constants for molecules which may be of experimental interest including AcF, EuN, ThO, PbO and TlF. We also present updated values of the nuclear Schiff moments and atomic and molecular EDM expressed in terms of the CP-violating pi-meson - nucleon interaction constants g_0,g_1, g_2, QCD parameter theta and quark chromo-EDMs. The results may be used to test CP-violation theories and search for axion dark matter in atomic, molecular and solid state experiments.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2020

Using isotope shift for testing nuclear theory: the case of nobelium isotopes

We calculate field isotope shifts for nobelium atoms using nuclear charge distributions which come from different nuclear models. We demonstrate that comparing calculated isotope shifts with experiment can serve as a testing ground for nuclear theories. It also provides a way of extracting parameters of nuclear charge distribution beyond nuclear RMS radius, e.g. parameter of quadrupole deformation $β$. We argue that previous interpretation of the isotope measurements in terms of $δ\langle r^2 \rangle$ between $^{252,254}$No isotopes should be amended when nuclear deformation is taken into account. We calculate isotope shifts for other known isotopes and for hypothetically metastable isotope $^{286}$No for which the predictions of nuclear models differ substantially.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2019

Time- and parity-violating effects of nuclear Schiff moment in molecules and solids

We show that existing calculations of the interaction between nuclear Schiff moments and electrons in molecules use an inaccurate operator which gives rise to significant errors. By comparing the matrix elements of the accurate and imprecise Schiff moment operators, we calculated the correction factor as a function of the nuclear charge Z and presented corrected results for the T,P-violating interaction of the nuclear spin with the molecular axis in the TlF, RaO, PbO, TlCN, ThO, AcF molecules and in the ferroelectric solid PbTiO$_3$.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2019

Theoretical calculation of atomic properties of superheavy elements Z=110-112 and their ions

We calculate the spectra, electric dipole transition rates and isotope shifts of the super heavy elements Ds (Z=110), Rg (Z=111) and Cn (Z=112) and their ions. These calculations were performed using a recently developed, efficient version of the ab initio configuration interaction combined with perturbation theory to treat distant effects. The successive ionization potentials of the three elements are also calculated and compared to lighter elements.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2019

Sensitivity of isotope shift to distribution of nuclear charge density

It is usually assumed that the field isotope shift (FIS) is completely determined by the change of the averaged squared values of the nuclear charge radius $\langle r^2\rangle$. Relativistic corrections modify the expression for FIS, which is actually described by the change of $\langle r^{2 γ}\rangle$, where $γ=\sqrt{1 - Z^2 α^2}$. In the present paper we consider corrections to FIS which are due to the nuclear deformation and due to the predicted reduced charge density in the middle of the superheavy nuclei produced by a very strong proton repulsion (hole in the nuclear centre). Specifically, we investigate effects which can not be completely reduced to the change of $\langle r^2 \rangle$ or $\langle r^{2 γ}\rangle$.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2019

Theoretical study of electron structure of superheavy elements with an open $6d$-shell, Sg, Bh, Hs and Mt

We use recently developed efficient versions of the configuration interaction method to perform {\em ab initio} calculations of the spectra of superheavy elements seaborgium (Sg, $Z=106$), bohrium (Bh, $Z=107$), hassium (Hs, $Z=108$) and meitnerium (Mt, $Z=109$). We calculate energy levels, ionization potentials, isotope shifts and electric dipole transition amplitudes. Comparison with lighter analogs reveals significant differences caused by strong relativistic effects in superheavy elements. Very large spin-orbit interaction distinguishes subshells containing orbitals with a definite total electron angular momentum $j$. This effect replaces Hund's rule holding for lighter elements.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2018

Constraining the magnetic field on white dwarf surfaces; Zeeman effects and fine structure constant variation

White dwarf atmospheres are subjected to gravitational potentials around $10^5$ times larger than occur on Earth. They provide a unique environment in which to search for any possible variation in fundamental physics in the presence of strong gravitational fields. However, a sufficiently strong magnetic field will alter absorption line profiles and introduce additional uncertainties in measurements of the fine structure constant. Estimating the magnetic field strength is thus essential in this context. Here we model the absorption profiles of a large number of atomic transitions in the white dwarf photosphere, including first-order Zeeman effects in the line profiles, varying the magnetic field as a free parameter. We apply the method to a high signal-to-noise, high-resolution, far-ultraviolet HST/STIS spectrum of the white dwarf G191-B2B. The method yields a sensitive upper limit on its magnetic field of $B < 2300$ Gauss at the $3σ$ level. Using this upper limit we find that the potential impact of quadratic Zeeman shifts on measurements of the fine structure constant in G191-B2B is 4 orders of magnitude below laboratory wavelength uncertainties.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2018

Fast configuration-interaction calculations for nobelium and ytterbium

We calculate excitation energies for low states of nobelium, including states with open $5f$ subshell. An efficient version of the many-electron configuration-interaction method for treating the atom as a sixteen external electrons system has been developed and used. The method is tested on calculations for ytterbium which has external electron structure similar to nobelium. The results for nobelium are important for prediction of its spectrum and for interpretation of recent measurements. Ytterbium is mostly used to study the features of the method.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2018

Hyperfine induced transitions 1S0 - 3D1 in Yb

Parity violation experiment in Yb is made on the strongly forbidden M1 transition 6s^2 1S0 \to 5d6s 3D1. The hyperfine mixing of the 5d6s 3D1 and 5d6s 3D2 levels opens E2 channel, whose amplitude differs for F-sublevels of the 3D1 level. This effect may be important for the experimental search for the nuclear-spin-dependent parity violation effects predominantly caused by the nuclear anapole moment.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2018

Nobelium energy levels and hyperfine structure constants

Advances in laser spectroscopy of superheavy ($Z>100$) elements enabled determination of the nuclear moments of the heaviest nuclei, which requires high-precision atomic calculations of the relevant hyperfine structure (HFS) constants. Here, we calculated the HFS constants and energy levels for a number of nobelium (Z=102) states using the hybrid approach, combining linearized coupled-cluster and configuration interaction methods. We also carried out an extensive study of the No energies using 16-electron configuration interaction method to determine the position of the (5f^{13}7s^2 6d) and (5f^{13}7s^2 7p) levels with a hole in the 5f shell to evaluate their potential effect on the hyperfine structure calculations of the low-lying (5f^{14}7s6d) and (5f^{14}7s7p) levels. We find that unlike the case of Yb, the mixing of the low-lying levels with filled and unfilled f shell is small and does not significantly influence their properties. The resulting HFS constants for the 5f^{14}7s7p 1P1 level, combined with laser-spectroscopy measurement, were used to extract nobelium nuclear properties [S. Raeder et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 232503 (2018)]

physics.atom-ph↗