Optical clocks based on an ensemble of trapped ions

拟议的科学项目以德国研究共同体与俄罗斯基础研究基金会之间的合作谅解备忘录为基础。我们请求支持新西伯利亚激光物理研究所（ILP）（PI：Sergei Bagayev教授）和联邦物理技术研究所（PTB）（PI：T.E.博士）之间的科学交流。Mehlstäubler），为期两年。俄罗斯合作伙伴将同时向RFBR提交一份单独的研究提案。在这次科学交流和合作中，我们将开发实验和理论工具，用于在捕获离子的扩展系综中进行精确光谱分析。将研究两个方面。在工作包1中，我们将评估一个自建的激光系统从新西伯利亚的高精度光谱在In+离子的适用性。在工作包2中，我们将解决在In+和Yb+离子的混合物种晶体中的多离子方法的准确性的最终极限的问题，并为将来扩展到询问Yb+离子的纯系综中的高度禁止的八极跃迁发展想法。本项目开发的工具将为实现基于In+和Yb+离子的多离子时钟铺平道路。我们的方法可以超越今天最好的光学离子钟的性能。我们期望这将是迈向离子钟实用化和应用的重要一步。这将直接影响光学钟的基础物理测试以及它们作为相对论大地测量学量子传感器的应用。

The proposed scientific project is based on the memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR). We ask for support of a scientific exchange between the Institute for Laser Physics - ILP, Novosibirsk (PI: Prof. Sergei Bagayev), and the Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt - PTB (PI: Dr. T.E. Mehlstäubler) for the duration of two years. The Russian partner will submit a separate research proposal to RFBR in parallel. During this scientific exchange and collaboration we will develop experimental and theoretical tools for precision spectroscopy in an extended ensemble of trapped ions. Two aspects will be investigated. In work package 1 we will evaluate a self-built laser system from Novosibirsk for its suitability for high-precision spectroscopy in In+ ions. In work package 2 we will address the question of ultimate limits in accuracy of the multi-ion approach in a mixed-species crystal of In+ and Yb+ ions and develop ideas for a future extension to interrogating the highly-forbidden octupole transition in a pure ensemble of Yb+ ions. The tools developed in this project will pave the way to realize a multi-ion clock based on In+ and Yb+ ions. Our approach can surpass the performance of todays best optical ion clocks. We expect that this will be a major step towards the practicability and application of ion clocks. This will directly affect tests of fundamental physics with optical clocks as well as their application as quantum sensors for relativistic geodesy.