Multi-Ion Precision Spectroscopy

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Tanja E. Mehlstäubler
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2020 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 430272718

The project is aimed at solving the problem of ultra-high precision spectroscopy of highly forbidden optical transitions in single and in ensembles of ions trapped in a radio frequency trap. Within the framework of the project, it is planned to develop and experimentally test new spectroscopic methods for ion Coulomb crystals, which will allow to radically suppress the light shift induced by probe fields. Within the frame of development of the synthetic frequency method, it is intended to achieve a significant decrease in the black-body radiation shift for multi-ion systems and their sensitivity to fluctuations in ambient temperature. In order to tackle Doppler-shifts due to the thermal dynamics in the Coulomb crystal, advanced cooling techniques will be developed and tested in coupled many-body systems. A first high-precision spectroscopy measurement of atomic frequencies in a laser-cooled Coulomb crystal will be carried out in a joint effort and benchmarked against PTB’s strontium lattice clock. The developed tools for precision spectroscopy in laser-cooled chains of ions will be important for improved tests of fundamental physics, such as tests of Local Lorentz Invariance and General Relativity and the search for physics beyond the Standard Model.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Russia
• Partner Organisation: Russian Foundation for Basic Research, until 3/2022
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Sergey N. Bagayev, until 3/2022