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Title: Optical lattice clock with atoms confined in a shallow trap

Abstract

We study the trap depth requirement for the realization of an optical clock using atoms confined in a lattice. We show that site-to-site tunneling leads to a residual sensitivity to the atom dynamics hence requiring large depths [(50-100)E{sub r} for Sr] to avoid any frequency shift or line broadening of the atomic transition at the 10{sup -17}-10{sup -18} level. Such large depths and the corresponding laser power may, however, lead to difficulties (e.g., higher-order light shifts, two-photon ionization, technical difficulties) and therefore one would like to operate the clock in much shallower traps. To circumvent this problem we propose the use of an accelerated lattice. Acceleration lifts the degeneracy between adjacents potential wells which strongly inhibits tunneling. We show that using the Earth's gravity, much shallower traps (down to 5E{sub r} for Sr) can be used for the same accuracy goal.

Authors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. SYRTE, Observatoire de Paris 61, Avenue de l'observatoire, 75014 Paris (France)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20718578
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review. A
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 72; Journal Issue: 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.72.033409; (c) 2005 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1050-2947
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS; ACCELERATION; ACCURACY; ATOMIC CLOCKS; ATOMS; GRAVITATION; LINE BROADENING; PHOTOIONIZATION; POTENTIALS; RADIATION PRESSURE; SENSITIVITY; STRONTIUM; TRAPS; TUNNEL EFFECT

Citation Formats

Lemonde, Pierre, Wolf, Peter, and Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, Pavillon de Breteuil, 92312 Sevres Cedex. Optical lattice clock with atoms confined in a shallow trap. United States: N. p., 2005. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.72.033409.
Lemonde, Pierre, Wolf, Peter, & Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, Pavillon de Breteuil, 92312 Sevres Cedex. Optical lattice clock with atoms confined in a shallow trap. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.72.033409
Lemonde, Pierre, Wolf, Peter, and Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, Pavillon de Breteuil, 92312 Sevres Cedex. 2005. "Optical lattice clock with atoms confined in a shallow trap". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.72.033409.
@article{osti_20718578,
title = {Optical lattice clock with atoms confined in a shallow trap},
author = {Lemonde, Pierre and Wolf, Peter and Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, Pavillon de Breteuil, 92312 Sevres Cedex},
abstractNote = {We study the trap depth requirement for the realization of an optical clock using atoms confined in a lattice. We show that site-to-site tunneling leads to a residual sensitivity to the atom dynamics hence requiring large depths [(50-100)E{sub r} for Sr] to avoid any frequency shift or line broadening of the atomic transition at the 10{sup -17}-10{sup -18} level. Such large depths and the corresponding laser power may, however, lead to difficulties (e.g., higher-order light shifts, two-photon ionization, technical difficulties) and therefore one would like to operate the clock in much shallower traps. To circumvent this problem we propose the use of an accelerated lattice. Acceleration lifts the degeneracy between adjacents potential wells which strongly inhibits tunneling. We show that using the Earth's gravity, much shallower traps (down to 5E{sub r} for Sr) can be used for the same accuracy goal.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevA.72.033409},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20718578}, journal = {Physical Review. A},
issn = {1050-2947},
number = 3,
volume = 72,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2005},
month = {Thu Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2005}
}