Ultra-accurate studies of time, quantum phenomena, and atomic physics using an isolated, laser cooled single ion system

拟议的研究计划使用了一种独特的国家实验设备，在该设备中，基本物理现象、原子结构、量子现象的测量都是在当前物理测量的极限下进行的，并为下一代实现基于原子的时间和频率奠定了潜在的基础。研究的重点是使用单一的、被捕获的和孤立的原子离子，它的运动通过激光辐射减慢，并使用工作频率为445太赫兹的具有赫兹水平线宽的激光源进行探测。该系统构成了光学原子钟的核心，它有可能超过使用Cs原子钟转换的SI秒的最佳电流实现。提出了一些实验，这些实验研究了地球重力场对时间的扭曲，并可以通过时钟系统的米级位移来感知这些变化。这项实验还将用于敏感的测量，以了解自然界中的一些基本常量是否真正具有固定值或随时间变化。

The proposed research program uses a unique national experimental facility where measurements of fundamental physical phenomena, atomic structure, quantum phenomena are perfomed at the limits of current physical measurement and form the potential basis for the next generation realization of atomic based time and frequency. The focus for the studies are centered on the use of a single, trapped and isolated atomic ion which is slowed down in its motion using laser radiation and probed using an laser source having Hz level linewidths at operating frequencies of 445 THz. The system forms the heart of an optical atomic clock which has the potential to outperform the best current realizations of the SI second using the Cs atomic clock transition. Experiments are proposed which investigate the distortion of time by earth's gravity field and can sense these changes by metre level displacements of the clock system. The experiment will also be used in sensitive measurements to see if some of the fundamental constants in nature have truly fixed values or vary with time.