Related papers: A multi-ion optical clock with $\mathbf{5 \times 1…
We have developed a broadly-applicable approach that drastically increases the ability to accurately predict properties of complex atoms. We applied it to the case of Ir$^{17+}$, which is of particular interest for the development of novel…
This dissertation reports on the development of a low-power, high-stability miniature atomic frequency standard based on 171Yb+ ions. The ions are buffer-gas cooled and held in a linear quadrupole trap that is integrated into a sealed,…
We perform calculations of electronic structure of Cm$^{15+}$ and Bk$^{16+}$ ions and demonstrate that they have transitions which combine the features of atomic optical clocks with the enhanced sensitivity to the variations of the fine…
With the advent of optical clocks featuring fractional frequency uncertainties on the order of $10^{-17}$ and below, new applications such as chronometric levelling with few-cm height resolution emerge. We are developing a transportable…
We present a measurement of the absolute frequency of the 5s$^2$ $^1$S$_0$ to 5s5p $^3$P$_0$ transition in $^{87}$Sr, which is a secondary representation of the SI second. We describe the optical lattice clock apparatus used for the…
State-of-the-art atomic clocks are based on the precise detection of the energy difference between two atomic levels, measured as a quantum phase accumulated in a given time interval. Optical-lattice clocks (OLCs) now operate at or near the…
Theories unifying gravity and other interactions suggest the possibility of spatial and temporal variation of physical ``constants''. Accuracy achieved for the atomic optical frequency standards (optical clocks) approaches the level when…
We report on the design of a segmented linear Paul trap for optical clock applications using trapped ion Coulomb crystals. For an optical clock with an improved short-term stability and a fractional frequency uncertainty of 10^-18, we…
The uncertainty of the ac Stark shift due to thermal radiation represents a major contribution to the systematic uncertainty budget of state-of-the-art optical atomic clocks. In the case of optical clocks based on trapped ions, the thermal…
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 present a compact atomic clock interrogating ultracold 87Rb magnetically trapped on an atom chip. Very long coherence times sustained by spin self-rephasing allow us to interrogate the atomic transition with 85% contrast at 5 s Ramsey…
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…
Our study is motivated by the prospect of several metastable states in the Sb$ ^{+} $, Au$ ^{+} $, and Hg$ ^{2+} $ ions being used as possible candidates for optical clocks. We calculate several atomic properties relevant to the development…
We report a single-ion optical clock based on the 4S_1/2-3D_5/2 transition of the 40Ca+ ion, operated in a liquid nitrogen cryogenic environment,achieving a total systematic uncertainty of 4.4E-19. We employ a refined temperature evaluation…
The environmental perturbation on atoms is the key factor restricting the performance of atomic frequency standards, especially in long term scale. In this letter, we demonstrate a real-time noise distinguish operation of atomic clocks. The…
Rapid progress in the precision and accuracy of optical atomic clocks over the last decade has advanced the frontiers of timekeeping, metrology, and quantum science. However, the stabilities of most optical clocks remain limited by the…
Optical clocks have extremely attractive applications in many fields, including time-frequency metrology, validation of fundamental physical principles, and relativistic geodesy. The 467 nm octupole transition in 171Yb+ ion exhibits…
Atomic clocks based on optical transitions are the most stable, and therefore precise, timekeepers available. These clocks operate by alternating intervals of atomic interrogation with dead time required for quantum state preparation and…
Optical clocks benefit from tight atomic confinement enabling extended interrogation times as well as Doppler- and recoil-free operation. However, these benefits come at the cost of frequency shifts that, if not properly controlled, may…
The accuracies of modern quantum logic clocks have surpassed those of standard atomic fountain clocks. These clocks also provide a greater degree of control, because before and after clock queries, we are able to apply chosen unitary…