Search results for "physics.atom-ph"
showing 10 items of 395 documents
AC-Stark shift and photoionization of Rydberg atoms in an optical dipole trap
2010
We have measured the AC-Stark shift of the $14D_{5/2}$ Rydberg state of rubidium 87 in an optical dipole trap formed by a focussed CO$_2$-laser. We find good quantitative agreement with the model of a free electron experiencing a ponderomotive potential in the light field. In order to reproduce the observed spectra we take into account the broadening of the Rydberg state due to photoionization. The extracted cross-section is compatible with previous measurements on neighboring Rydberg states.
Implications of surface noise for the motional coherence of trapped ions
2016
Electric noise from metallic surfaces is a major obstacle towards quantum applications with trapped ions due to motional heating of the ions. Here, we discuss how the same noise source can also lead to pure dephasing of motional quantum states. The mechanism is particularly relevant at small ion-surface distances, thus imposing a new constraint on trap miniaturization. By means of a free induction decay experiment, we measure the dephasing time of the motion of a single ion trapped 50~$\mu$m above a Cu-Al surface. From the dephasing times we extract the integrated noise below the secular frequency of the ion. We find that none of the most commonly discussed surface noise models for ion trap…
Precise determination of the 1s Lamb shift in hydrogen-like lead and gold using microcalorimeters
2016
Quantum electrodynamics in very strong Coulomb fields is one scope which has not yet been tested experimentally with suffcient accuracy to really determine whether the perturbative approach is valid. One sensitive test is the determination of the 1s Lamb Shift in highly-charged very heavy ions. The 1s Lamb Shift of hydrogen-like lead (Pb81+) and gold (Au78+) has been determined using the novel detector concept of silicon microcalorimeters for the detection of hard X-rays. The results of (260 +- 22) eV for lead and (208 +- 13) eV for gold are within error bars in good agreement with theoretical predictions. For hydrogen-like lead, this represents the most accurate determination of the 1s Lam…
Dependence of atomic parity-violation effects on neutron skins and new physics
2019
We estimate the relative contribution of nuclear structure and new physics couplings to the parity non-conserving spin-independent effects in atomic systems, for both single isotopes and isotopic ratios. General expressions are presented to assess the sensitivity of isotopic ratios to neutron skins and to couplings beyond standard model at tree level. The specific coefficients for these contributions are calculated assuming Fermi distribution for proton and neutron nuclear densities for isotopes of Cs, Ba, Sm, Dy, Yb, Pb, Fr, and Ra. The present work aims to provide a guide to the choice of the best isotopes and pairs of isotopes for conducting atomic PNC measurements.
Exploiting transport properties for the detection of optical pumping in heavy ions
2020
We present a kinetic model for optical pumping in Lu$^+$ and Lr$^+$ ions as well as a theoretical approach to calculate the transport properties of Lu$^+$ in its ground $^1S_0$ and metastable $^3D_1$ states in helium background gas. Calculations of the initial ion state populations, the field and temperature dependence of the mobilities and diffusion coefficients, and the ion arrival time distributions demonstrate that the ground- and metastable-state ions can be collected and discriminated efficiently under realistic macroscopic conditions.
Nuclear polarization effects in atoms and ions
2021
In heavy atoms and ions, nuclear structure effects are significantly enhanced due to the overlap of the electron wave functions with the nucleus. This overlap rapidly increases with the nuclear charge $Z$. We study the energy level shifts induced by the electric dipole and electric quadrupole nuclear polarization effects in atoms and ions with $Z \geq 20$. The electric dipole polarization effect is enhanced by the nuclear giant dipole resonance. The electric quadrupole polarization effect is enhanced because the electrons in a heavy atom or ion move faster than the rotation of the deformed nucleus, thus experiencing significant corrections to the conventional approximation in which they `se…
High-precision measurement of the atomic mass of the electron
2014
A very precise measurement of the magnetic moment of a single electron bound to a carbon nucleus, combined with a state-of-the-art calculation in the framework of bound-state quantum electrodynamics, gives a new value of the atomic mass of the electron that is more precise than the currently accepted one by a factor of 13. The atomic mass of the electron is a key parameter for fundamental physics. A precise determination is a challenge because the mass is so low. Sven Sturm and colleagues report on a new determination of the electron's mass in atomic units. The authors measured the magnetic moment of a single electron bound to a reference ion (a bare nucleus of carbon-12). The results were …
Theory of the n = 2 levels in muonic helium-3 ions
2017
The present knowledge of Lamb shift, fine-, and hyperfine structure of the 2S and 2P states in muonic helium-3 ions is reviewed in anticipation of the results of a first measurement of several 2S → 2P transition frequencies in the muonic helium-3 ion, μ3He+. This ion is the bound state of a single negative muon μ- and a bare helium-3 nucleus (helion), 3He++. A term-by-term comparison of all available sources, including new, updated, and so far unpublished calculations, reveals reliable values and uncertainties of the QED and nuclear structure-dependent contributions to the Lamb shift and the hyperfine splitting. These values are essential for the determination of the helion rms charge radiu…
Momentum partition between constituents of exotic atoms during laser-induced tunneling ionization
2015
The tunneling ionization of exotic atoms such as muonic hydrogen, muonium, and positronium in a strong laser field of circular polarization is investigated, taking into account the impact of the motion of the center of mass on the the tunneling ionization dynamics. The momentum partition between the ionization products is deduced. The effect of the center-of-mass motion for the momentum distribution of the ionization components is determined. The effect scales with the ratio of the electron (muon) to the atomic core masses and is nonnegligible for exotic atoms, while being insignificant for common atoms. It is shown that the electron (muon) momentum shift during the under-the-barrier motion…
Single Ion Thermal Wave Packet Analyzed Via Time-Of-Flight Detection
2021
Abstract A single 40Ca ion is confined in the harmonic potential of a Paul trap and cooled to a temperature of a few mK, with a wave packet of sub-μm spatial and sub-m s−1 velocity uncertainty. Deterministically extracted from the Paul trap, the single ion is propagating over a distance of 0.27 m and detected. By engineering the ion extraction process on the initial wave packet, theoretically modeling the ion trajectories, and studying experimentally the time-of-flight distribution, we directly infer the state of the previously trapped ion. This analysis allows for accurate remote sensing of the previous motional excitation in the trap potential, both coherently or incoherently. Our method …