Long-Lived Coherence on a μHz Scale Optical Magnetic Quadrupole Transition.

We report on the coherent excitation of the ultranarrow ^{1}S_{0}-^{3}P_{2} magnetic quadrupole transition in ^{88}Sr. By confining atoms in a state insensitive optical lattice, we achieve excitation fractions of 97(1)% and observe linewidths as narrow as 58(1) Hz. With Ramsey spectroscopy, we find coherence times of 14(1) ms, which can be extended to 266(36) ms using a spin-echo sequence.

Prospects of a thousand-ion Sn Coulomb-crystal clock with sub-10 inaccuracy.

Optical atomic clocks are the most accurate and precise measurement devices of any kind, enabling advances in international timekeeping, Earth science, fundamental physics, and more. However, there is a fundamental tradeoff between accuracy and precision, where higher precision is achieved by using more atoms, but this comes at the cost of larger interactions between the atoms that limit the accuracy. Here, we propose a many-ion optical atomic clock based on three-dimensional Coulomb crystals of order one thousand Sn ions confined in a linear RF Paul trap with the potential to overcome this limitation.

New Measurement Resolves Key Astrophysical Fe XVII Oscillator Strength Problem.

One of the most enduring and intensively studied problems of x-ray astronomy is the disagreement of state-of-the art theory and observations for the intensity ratio of two Fe XVII transitions of crucial value for plasma diagnostics, dubbed 3C and 3D. We unravel this conundrum at the PETRA III synchrotron facility by increasing the resolving power 2.5 times and the signal-to-noise ratio thousandfold compared with our previous work.

Detection of the Lowest-Lying Odd-Parity Atomic Levels in Actinium.

Two lowest-energy odd-parity atomic levels of actinium, 7s^{2}7p^{2}P_{1/2}^{o}, 7s^{2}7p^{2}P_{3/2}^{o}, were observed via two-step resonant laser-ionization spectroscopy and their respective energies were measured to be 7477.36(4) and 12 276.59(2)  cm^{-1}.

High Resolution Photoexcitation Measurements Exacerbate the Long-Standing Fe XVII Oscillator Strength Problem.

For more than 40 years, most astrophysical observations and laboratory studies of two key soft x-ray diagnostic 2p-3d transitions, 3C and 3D, in Fe XVII ions found oscillator strength ratios f(3C)/f(3D) disagreeing with theory, but uncertainties had precluded definitive statements on this much studied conundrum. Here, we resonantly excite these lines using synchrotron radiation at PETRA III, and reach, at a millionfold lower photon intensities, a 10 times higher spectral resolution, and 3 times smaller uncertainty than earlier work. Our final result of f(3C)/f(3D)=3.

State-Dependent Optical Lattices for the Strontium Optical Qubit.

We demonstrate state-dependent optical lattices for the Sr optical qubit at the tune-out wavelength for its ground state. We tightly trap excited state atoms while suppressing the effect of the lattice on ground state atoms by more than 4 orders of magnitude. This highly independent control over the qubit states removes inelastic excited state collisions as the main obstacle for quantum simulation and computation schemes based on the Sr optical qubit.

Accurate Prediction of Clock Transitions in a Highly Charged Ion with Complex Electronic Structure.

We develop a broadly applicable approach that drastically increases the ability to predict the properties of complex atoms accurately. We apply it to the case of Ir^{17+}, which is of particular interest for the development of novel atomic clocks with a high sensitivity to the variation of the fine-structure constant and to dark matter searches. In general, clock transitions are weak and very difficult to identify without accurate theoretical predictions.

Optical clock comparison for Lorentz symmetry testing.

Questioning basic assumptions about the structure of space and time has greatly enhanced our understanding of nature. State-of-the-art atomic clocks make it possible to precisely test fundamental symmetry properties of spacetime and search for physics beyond the standard model at low energies of just a few electronvolts. Modern tests of Einstein's theory of relativity try to measure so-far-undetected violations of Lorentz symmetry; accurately comparing the frequencies of optical clocks is a promising route to further improving such tests.

Nuclear Charge Radii of ^{229}Th from Isotope and Isomer Shifts.

The isotope ^{229}Th is unique in that it possesses an isomeric state of only a few electron volts above the ground state, suitable for nuclear laser excitation. An optical clock based on this transition is expected to be a very sensitive probe for variations of fundamental constants, but the nuclear properties of both states have to be determined precisely to derive the actual sensitivity. We carry out isotope shift calculations in Th^{+} and Th^{2+} including the specific mass shift, using a combination of configuration interaction and all-order linearized coupled-cluster methods and estimate the uncertainty of this approach.

Probing Sizes and Shapes of Nobelium Isotopes by Laser Spectroscopy.

Until recently, ground-state nuclear moments of the heaviest nuclei could only be inferred from nuclear spectroscopy, where model assumptions are required. Laser spectroscopy in combination with modern atomic structure calculations is now able to probe these moments directly, in a comprehensive and nuclear-model-independent way. Here we report on unique access to the differential mean-square charge radii of ^{252,253,254}No, and therefore to changes in nuclear size and shape.

Two Clock Transitions in Neutral Yb for the Highest Sensitivity to Variations of the Fine-Structure Constant.

We propose a new frequency standard based on a 4f^{14}6s6p ^{3}P_{0}-4f^{13}6s^{2}5d (J=2) transition in neutral Yb. This transition has a potential for high stability and accuracy and the advantage of the highest sensitivity among atomic clocks to variation of the fine-structure constant α. We find its dimensionless α-variation enhancement factor to be K=-15, in comparison to the most sensitive current clock (Yb^{+}  E3, K=-6), and it is 18 times larger than in any neutral-atomic clocks (Hg, K=0.

New Methods for Testing Lorentz Invariance with Atomic Systems.

We describe a broadly applicable experimental proposal to search for the violation of local Lorentz invariance (LLI) with atomic systems. The new scheme uses dynamic decoupling and can be implemented in current atomic clock experiments, with both single ions and arrays of neutral atoms. Moreover, the scheme can be performed on systems with no optical transitions, and therefore it is also applicable to highly charged ions which exhibit a particularly high sensitivity to Lorentz invariance violation.

Multipolar Polarizabilities and Hyperpolarizabilities in the Sr Optical Lattice Clock.

We address the problem of the lattice Stark shifts in the Sr clock caused by the multipolar M1 and E2 atom-field interactions and by the term nonlinear in lattice intensity and determined by the hyperpolarizability. We develop an approach to calculate hyperpolarizabilities for atoms and ions based on a solution of the inhomogeneous equation which allows us to effectively and accurately carry out complete summations over intermediate states. We apply our method to the calculation of the hyperpolarizabilities for the clock states in Sr.

Relativistic all-order many-body calculation of energies, wavelengths, and 1 and 2 transition rates for the 3 configurations in tungsten ions.

Energy levels, wavelengths, magnetic-dipole and electric-quadrupole transition rates between the low-lying states are evaluated for W to W ions with 3 ( = 2 to 5) electronic configurations by using an approach combining configuration interaction with the linearized coupled-cluster single-double method. The QED corrections are directly incorporated into the calculations and their effect is studied in detail. Uncertainties of the calculations are discussed.

Towards a Mg Lattice Clock: Observation of the ^{1}S_{0}-^{3}P_{0} Transition and Determination of the Magic Wavelength.

We optically excite the electronic state 3s3p ^{3}P_{0} in ^{24}Mg   atoms, laser cooled and trapped in a magic-wavelength lattice. An applied magnetic field enhances the coupling of the light to the otherwise strictly forbidden transition. We determine the magic wavelength, the quadratic magnetic Zeeman shift, and the transition frequency to be 468.

Michelson-Morley analogue for electrons using trapped ions to test Lorentz symmetry.

All evidence so far suggests that the absolute spatial orientation of an experiment never affects its outcome. This is reflected in the standard model of particle physics by requiring all particles and fields to be invariant under Lorentz transformations. The best-known tests of this important cornerstone of physics are Michelson-Morley-type experiments verifying the isotropy of the speed of light.

Highly charged ions for atomic clocks, quantum information, and search for α variation.

We propose 10 highly charged ions as candidates for the development of next generation atomic clocks, quantum information, and search for α variation. They have long-lived metastable states with transition wavelengths to the ground state between 170-3000 nm, relatively simple electronic structure, stable isotopes, and high sensitivity to α variation (e.g.

Ytterbium in quantum gases and atomic clocks: van der Waals interactions and blackbody shifts.

We evaluated the C(6) coefficients of Yb-Yb, Yb-alkali, and Yb-group II van der Waals interactions with 2% uncertainty. The only existing experimental result for such quantities is for the Yb-Yb dimer. Our value, C(6)=1929(39) a.

Electric dipole moment enhancement factor of thallium.

The goal of this work is to resolve the present controversy in the value of the electric dipole moment (EDM) enhancement factor of Tl. We carry out several calculations by different high-precision methods, study previously omitted corrections, as well as test our methodology on other, parity conserving, quantities. We find the EDM enhancement factor of Tl to be equal to -573(20).

Excitation of the isomeric 229mTh nuclear state via an electronic bridge process in 229Th+.

We consider the excitation of the nuclear transition 229gTh-229mTh near 7.6 eV in singly ionized thorium via an electronic bridge process. The process relies on the excitation of the electron shell by two laser photons whose sum frequency is equal to the nuclear transition frequency.

Proposed experimental method to determine alpha sensitivity of splitting between ground and 7.6 eV isomeric states in 229Th.

The 7.6 eV electromagnetic transition between the nearly degenerate ground state and first excited state in the 229Th nucleus may be very sensitive to potential changes in the fine-structure constant, alpha=e2/variant Planck's over 2pic. However, the sensitivity is not known, and nuclear calculations are currently unable to determine it.

Precision determination of electroweak coupling from atomic parity violation and implications for particle physics.

We carry out high-precision calculation of parity violation in a cesium atom, reducing theoretical uncertainty by a factor of 2 compared to previous evaluations. We combine previous measurements with calculations and extract the weak charge of the 133Cs nucleus, QW=-73.16(29)expt(20)theor.

Trapping of neutral mercury atoms and prospects for optical lattice clocks.

We report vapor-cell magneto-optical trapping of Hg isotopes on the (1)S(0)-(3)P(1) intercombination transition. Six abundant isotopes, including four bosons and two fermions, were trapped. Hg is the heaviest nonradioactive atom trapped so far, which enables sensitive atomic searches for "new physics" beyond the standard model.