Clock and inter-combination line frequency separation in¹⁷¹Yb

Abstract

We have carried out concurrent optical frequency measurements of the (6s2 ) and (6s 2 ) 1 S 0 − (6s6p) 3 P 0 transitions in 171 Yb, and in so doing have determined the frequency separation between the 3 P 0 (F = 1 2 ) and 3 P 1 (F = 3 2 ) levels with an uncertainty in the ppb range. The knowledge of this frequency interval will aid experiments relying on the 1 S 0 − 3 P 0 line in 171 Yb and 173 Yb without access to highly accurate frequency standards.

Inverted crossover resonance within one Zeeman manifold

“…The 171 Yb F ′ =1/2 frequency can be used to compute a value for the 171 Yb F ′ =3/2 frequency based on the hyperfine frequency separation of 5 937 779 (57) kHz [14]. The result is 539 390 406 810 (62) kHz, which is consistent with that previously reported and with reduced uncertainty [31]. For the 171 Yb F ′ =3/2 hyperfine line, the ICR was used as a means of laser frequency stabilization for laser cooling.…”

“…Also included is an uncertainty associated with servo error (more specifically, identifying the centre of the line) [30]. We note this overall uncertainty is more than an order of magnitude smaller than the previous most accurate measurement of a Yb intercombination line frequency [31]. While not at all competitive with cold-atom atomic frequency standards, the 171 Yb F ′ =1/2 ICR provides a simple and effective thermal beam frequency reference.…”

An inverted crossover resonance aiding laser cooling of ^171Yb

“…Our setup also enables a measure of frequency differences between isotopic lines and hyperfine separations with statistical uncertainties of 60 kHz or less for most of the frequency intervals. These are determined via absolute optical frequency measurements [29]. We provide a summary of these measurements and compare with previous reports.…”

“…The saturated absorption scheme comprises a retroreflected 556 nm beam at right angles to the atomic beam and the 556 nm fluorescence is detected by a photomultiplier tube (Hamamatsu H10492-003). We take advantage of the Yb atomic beam leading to a magnetooptical trap (MOT) used for clock line spectroscopy [29]. Frequency modulation at 33 kHz is applied to the light via an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) allowing for third harmonic detection with a lock-in amplifier.…”

Fourier transform detection of weak optical transitions with cyclic routines

“…The clock line laser at 578 nm is produced by use of a third frequency doubling cavity, where the master laser is an extended cavity diode laser (LD1001 Time-Base) and Hänsch-Couillaud frequency stabilization is used with the doubling cavity 25 . The yellow light frequency is tuned with an additional AOM (AOM-1 in Fig.…”