0000000000422211
AUTHOR
Marcus Zimmermann
Test of relativistic time dilation with fast optical atomic clocks at different velocities
Time dilation is one of the most fascinating aspects of special relativity as it abolishes the notion of absolute time. It was first observed experimentally by Ives and Stilwell in 1938 using the Doppler effect. Here we report on a method, based on fast optical atomic clocks with large, but different Lorentz boosts, that tests relativistic time dilation with unprecedented precision. The approach combines ion storage and cooling with optical frequency counting using a frequency comb. 7Li+ ions are prepared at 6.4% and 3.0% of the speed of light in a storage ring, and their time is read with an accuracy of 2×10−10 using laser saturation spectroscopy. The comparison of the Doppler shifts yield…
Iodine hyperfine structure and absolute frequency measurements at 565, 576, and 585nm
Abstract The hyperfine structure splittings of the P(10)14-1, R(15)14-1, and R(99)15-1 transitions at 585 nm, P(62)17-1 at 576 nm, and P(80)21-1 at 565 nm in 127 I 2 are measured by heterodyne spectroscopy using two dye lasers. In addition, the absolute frequencies of the hyperfine components P(10)14-1 a 15 and P(80)21-1 a 10 are determined using a self-referenced frequency comb. These frequencies are used in an experiment testing relativistic time dilation by laser spectroscopy on a fast ion beam.