arXiv subjects

Z. W. Barber

Publications and source records attributed to Z. W. Barber.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2010

Hyper-Ramsey Spectroscopy of Optical Clock Transitions

We present non-standard optical Ramsey schemes that use pulses individually tailored in duration, phase, and frequency to cancel spurious frequency shifts related to the excitation itself. In particular, the field shifts and their uncertainties of Ramsey fringes can be radically suppressed (by 2-4 orders of magnitude) in comparison with the usual Ramsey method (using two equal pulses) as well as with single-pulse Rabi spectroscopy. Atom interferometers and optical clocks based on two-photon transitions, heavily forbidden transitions, or magnetically induced spectroscopy could significantly benefit from this method. In the latter case these frequency shifts can be suppressed considerably below a fractional level of 10^{-17}. Moreover, our approach opens the door for the high-precision optical clocks based on direct frequency comb spectroscopy.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2009

Compensation of Field-Induced Frequency Shifts in Ramsey Spectroscopy of Optical Clock Transitions

We have extended Ramsey spectroscopy by stepping the probe frequency during the two Ramsey excitation pulses to compensate frequency shifts induced by the excitation itself. This makes precision Ramsey spectroscopy applicable even for transitions that have Stark and Zeeman shifts comparable to the spectroscopic resolution. The method enables a new way to evaluate and compensate key frequency shifts, which benefits in particular, optical clocks based on magnetic field-induced, spectroscopy, two-photon transitions, or heavily forbidden transitions.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2009

Spin-1/2 Optical Lattice Clock

We experimentally investigate an optical clock based on $^{171}$Yb ($I=1/2$) atoms confined in an optical lattice. We have evaluated all known frequency shifts to the clock transition, including a density-dependent collision shift, with a fractional uncertainty of $3.4 \times 10^{-16}$, limited principally by uncertainty in the blackbody radiation Stark shift. We measured the absolute clock transition frequency relative to the NIST-F1 Cs fountain clock and find the frequency to be 518 295 836 590 865.2(0.7) Hz.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2008

Field Compensation of Field Frequency Shifts in the Ramsey Spectroscopy of Clock Optical Transitions

We develop the method of Ramsey spectroscopy with the use of an additional field compensating the frequency shifts of clock optical transitions. This method in combination with the method of magnetically induced excitation of strongly forbidden transitions $^1S_0$$\to$$^3P_0$ [A.V. Taichenachev, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 96}, 083001 (2006)] allows the practically complete compensation (down to the fractional level below 10$^{-17}$ with respect to the unperturbed clock frequency) of field shifts of various origin for even isotopes of alkaline-earth-like atoms confined to an optical lattice at magic wavelength (lattice-based atomic clocks). Apart from this, the new method can be used in the two-photon Doppler-free Ramsey spectroscopy of other forbidden optical transitions (for example, $^1S_0$$\to$$^1S_0$ and $^1S_0$$\to$$^1D_2$) and other atoms. This opens perspectives for development of principally new variants of primary optical frequency standards based on free atoms. As a whole, the method of the shift-compensating field is distinguished by simplicity and high efficiency, and it can be applied for any transitions in any atoms and ions.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2008

Frequency evaluation of the doubly forbidden $^1S_0\to ^3P_0$ transition in bosonic $^{174}$Yb

We report an uncertainty evaluation of an optical lattice clock based on the $^1S_0\leftrightarrow^3P_0$ transition in the bosonic isotope $^{174}$Yb by use of magnetically induced spectroscopy. The absolute frequency of the $^1S_0\leftrightarrow^3P_0$ transition has been determined through comparisons with optical and microwave standards at NIST. The weighted mean of the evaluations is $ν$($^{174}$Yb)=518 294 025 309 217.8(0.9) Hz. The uncertainty due to systematic effects has been reduced to less than 0.8 Hz, which represents $1.5\times10^{-15}$ in fractional frequency.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2008

Sr lattice clock at 1x10^{-16} fractional uncertainty by remote optical evaluation with a Ca clock

Optical atomic clocks promise timekeeping at the highest precision and accuracy, owing to their high operating frequencies. Rigorous evaluations of these clocks require direct comparisons between them. We have realized a high-performance remote comparison of optical clocks over km-scale urban distances, a key step for development, dissemination, and application of these optical standards. Through this remote comparison and a proper design of lattice-confined neutral atoms for clock operation, we evaluate the uncertainty of a strontium (Sr) optical lattice clock at the 1x10-16 fractional level, surpassing the best current evaluations of cesium (Cs) primary standards. We also report on the observation of density-dependent effects in the spin-polarized fermionic sample and discuss the current limiting effect of blackbody radiation-induced frequency shifts.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2008

Optical Lattice Induced Light Shifts in an Yb Atomic Clock

We present an experimental study of the lattice induced light shifts on the 1S_0-3P_0 optical clock transition (v_clock~518 THz) in neutral ytterbium. The ``magic'' frequency, v_magic, for the 174Yb isotope was determined to be 394 799 475(35)MHz, which leads to a first order light shift uncertainty of 0.38 Hz on the 518 THz clock transition. Also investigated were the hyperpolarizability shifts due to the nearby 6s6p 3P_0 - 6s8p 3P_0, 6s8p 3P_2, and 6s5f 3F_2 two-photon resonances at 759.708 nm, 754.23 nm, and 764.95 nm respectively. By tuning the lattice frequency over the two-photon resonances and measuring the corresponding clock transition shifts, the hyperpolarizability shift was estimated to be 170(33) mHz for a linear polarized, 50 uK deep, lattice at the magic wavelength. In addition, we have confirmed that a circularly polarized lattice eliminates the J=0 - J=0 two-photon resonance. These results indicate that the differential polarizability and hyperpolarizability frequency shift uncertainties in a Yb lattice clock could be held to well below 10^-17.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2005

Magnetic field-induced spectroscopy of forbidden optical transitions with application to lattice-based optical atomic clocks

We develop a method of spectroscopy that uses a weak static magnetic field to enable direct optical excitation of forbidden electric-dipole transitions that are otherwise prohibitively weak. The power of this scheme is demonstrated using the important application of optical atomic clocks based on neutral atoms confined to an optical lattice. The simple experimental implementation of this method -- a single clock laser combined with a DC magnetic field-- relaxes stringent requirements in current lattice-based clocks (e.g., magnetic field shielding and light polarization), and could therefore expedite the realization of the extraordinary performance level predicted for these clocks. We estimate that a clock using alkaline earth-like atoms such as Yb could achieve a fractional frequency uncertainty of well below 10^-17 for the metrologically preferred even isotopes.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2005

Observation and absolute frequency measurements of the 1S0 - 3P0 optical clock transition in ytterbium

We report the direct excitation of the highly forbidden (6s^2) 1S0 - (6s6p) 3P0 optical transition in two odd isotopes of ytterbium. As the excitation laser frequency is scanned, absorption is detected by monitoring the depletion from an atomic cloud at ~70 uK in a magneto-optical trap. The measured frequency in 171Yb (F=1/2) is 518,295,836,593.2 +/- 4.4 kHz. The measured frequency in 173Yb (F=5/2) is 518,294,576,850.0 +/- 4.4 kHz. Measurements are made with a femtosecond-laser frequency comb calibrated by the NIST cesium fountain clock and represent nearly a million-fold reduction in uncertainty. The natural linewidth of these J=0 to J=0 transitions is calculated to be ~10 mHz, making them well-suited to support a new generation of optical atomic clocks based on confinement in an optical lattice.

physics.atom-ph↗