Trapping and Cooling Thorium Ions with Calcium (TACTICA)

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Dmitry Budker, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Christoph Düllmann; Professor Dr. Ferdinand Schmidt-Kaler
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas ; Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 495729045

We propose to perform precision spectroscopy of single thorium ions trapped and sympathetically cooled in a host crystal of singly-ionized trapped calcium ions. A recoil source of thorium isotopes in a range of charge states will be constructed, suitable for loading these ions into the spectroscopy trap. The proposed measurements, using the quantum logic techniques, will enable sensitive tests of fundamental symmetries and will contribute to the development of atomic theory and ultraprecise clocks based on the low-energy nuclear transition in 229Th.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Australia, USA
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Dr. Victor Flambaum, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Tibor Kibédi; Professorin Dr. Marianna Safronova