Lifetime measurement of the metastable 4d {sup 2}D{sub 5/2} state in {sup 88}Sr{sup +} using a single trapped ion

Journal Article · Fri Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.72.012509· OSTI ID:20718356

Letchumanan, V; Wilson, M A; Gill, P; Sinclair, A G ^[1]

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1. National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LW (United Kingdom)

The natural lifetime of the metastable 4d {sup 2}D{sub 5/2} state in {sup 88}Sr{sup +} has been measured using a single laser-cooled, trapped ion. The ion was prepared in the 4d {sup 2}D{sub 5/2} state by laser excitation of the 5s {sup 2}S{sub 1/2}-4d {sup 2}D{sub 5/2} quadrupole transition at 674 nm. The decay time was measured by using Dehmelt's electron shelving method to monitor the ion's electronic state. Two separate investigations were conducted under slightly different experimental conditions. 160 000 decay times from the 4d {sup 2}D{sub 5/2} state were observed in total, and two different methods for determining the statistical value of the measured lifetime have been compared. Systematic effects have also been estimated, and including these effects yields a value of {tau}=390.8(1.6) ms (1{sigma} uncertainty) for the natural lifetime.

• OSTI ID: 20718356
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 72; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
CATIONS
DECAY
ELECTRONS
EXCITATION
LASER RADIATION
LIFETIME
METASTABLE STATES
PHOTON-ATOM COLLISIONS
QUADRUPOLES
STRONTIUM IONS
TRAPPING