Related papers: Improved limit on a temporal variation of $m_p/m_e…
We compare two optical clocks based on the $^2$S$_{1/2}(F=0)\to {}^2$D$_{3/2}(F=2)$ electric quadrupole (E2) and the $^2$S$_{1/2}(F=0)\to {}^2$F$_{7/2}(F=3)$ electric octupole (E3) transition of $^{171}$Yb$^{+}$ and measure the frequency…
Precision comparisons of different atomic frequency standards over a period of a few years can be used for a sensitive search for temporal variations of fundamental constants. We present recent frequency measurements of the 688 THz…
Over a period of eight months, we have monitored transition frequencies between nearly degenerate, opposite-parity levels in two isotopes of atomic dysprosium (Dy). These transition frequencies are highly sensitive to temporal variation of…
Over a two-year duration, we have compared the frequency of the 199Hg+ 5d106s 2S 1/2 (F=0)<-> 5d9 6s2 2D 5/2 (F=2) electric-quadrupole transition at 282 nm with the frequency of the ground-state hyperfine splitting in neutral 133Cs. These…
We experimentally investigate an optical frequency standard based on the 467 nm (642 THz) electric-octupole reference transition 2S1/2(F=0) -> F7/2(F=3) in a single trapped 171Yb+ ion. The extraordinary features of this transition result…
The comparison of different atomic transition frequencies over time can be used to determine the present value of the temporal derivative of the fine structure constant alpha in a model-independent way without assumptions on constancy or…
Singly-ionized ytterbium, with ultra-narrow optical clock transitions at 467 nm and 436 nm, is a convenient system for the realization of optical atomic clocks and tests of present-day variation of fundamental constants. We present the…
We propose a new frequency standard based on a $4f^{14} 6s6p~ ^3\!P_0 - 4f^{13} 6s^2 5d ~(J=2)$ transition in neutral Yb. This transition has a potential for high stability and accuracy and the advantage of the highest sensitivity among…
We present improved constraints on the coupling of ultralight bosonic dark matter to photons based on long-term measurements of two optical frequency ratios. In these optical clock comparisons, we relate the frequency of the ${}^2S_{1/2}…
A full evaluation of the uncertainty budget for the ytterbium ion optical clock at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) was performed on the electric octupole (E3) $^2\mathrm{S}_{1/2}\,\rightarrow\, ^2\mathrm{F}_{7/2}$ transition. The…
Peik and Tamm [Europhys. Lett. 61, 181 (2003)] proposed a nuclear clock based on the isomeric transition between the ground state and the first excited state of thorium-229. This transition was recognized as a potentially sensitive probe of…
It has been proposed that the radio-frequency electric-dipole (E1) transition between two nearly degenerate opposite-parity states in atomic dysprosium should be highly sensitive to possible temporal variation of the fine structure constant…
We report direct measurements of the frequency ratio of the 642 THz ${}^2S_{1/2} (F=0)$--${}^2F_{7/2} (F=3)$ electric octupole transition in ${}^{171}\mathrm{Yb}^+$ and the 429 THz ${}^1S_0$--${}^3P_0$ transition in ${}^{87}\mathrm{Sr}$. A…
In 2003 we have measured the absolute frequency of the $(1S, F=1, m_F=\pm 1) \leftrightarrow (2S, F'=1, m_F'=\pm 1)$ two-photon transition in atomic hydrogen. We observed a variation of $(-29\pm 57)$ Hz over a 44 months interval separating…
Demands from several areas of science and technology have lead to a worldwide search for accurate optical clocks with an uncertainty of 1 part in $10^{18}$, which is $10^{3}$ times more accurate than the present day cesium atomic clocks…
The highly forbidden $^2$S$_{1/2} \rightarrow ^2$F$_{7/2}$ electric octupole transition in $^{171}$Yb$^+$ is a potential candidate for a redefinition of the SI second. We present a measurement of the absolute frequency of this optical…
Dependence of transition frequencies on the fine structure constant $\alpha=e^2/\hbar c$ is calculated for several many-electron systems which are used or planned to be used in the laboratory search for the time variation of the fine…
We experimentally investigate an optical frequency standard based on the $^2S_{1/2} (F=0)\to {}^2F_{7/2} (F=3)$ electric octupole (\textit{E}3) transition of a single trapped $^{171}$Yb$^+$ ion. For the spectroscopy of this strongly…
Optical lattice clocks are the prospective devices that can probe many subtle physics including temporal variation of the fine structure constant ($\alpha_e$). These studies necessitate high-precision measurements of atomic clock frequency…
Hyperfine-induced electric dipole contributions may significantly increase probabilities of otherwise very weak electric octupole and magnetic quadrupole atomic clock transitions (e.g. transitions between $s$ and $f$ electron orbitals).…