Experimental determination of the helium 2(3)P(1)-1(1)S0 transition rate

We present the first experimental determination of the 2(3)P(1)-1(1)S0 transition rate in helium and compare this measurement with theoretical quantum-electrodynamic predictions. The experiment exploits the very long (approximately 1 minute) confinement times obtained for atoms magneto-optically trapped in an apparatus used to create a Bose-Einstein condensate of metastable (2(3)S1) helium. The 2(3)P(1)-1(1)S0 transition rate is measured directly from the decay rate of the cold atomic cloud following 1083 nm laser excitation from the 2(3)S1 to the 2(3)P1 state, and from accurate knowledge of the 2(3)P1 population. The value obtained is 177+/-8 s(-1), which agrees very well with theoretical predictions, and has an accuracy that compares favorably with measurements for the same transition in heliumlike ions higher in the isoelectronic sequence.     

Absolute frequency measurement of the 435.5-nm (171)Yb+-clock transition with a Kerr-lens mode-locked femtosecond laser

We have measured the frequency of the 6s(2)S(1/2)(2)-5d D(3/2)(2) electric-quadrupole transition of (171)(Yb) (+) with a relative uncertainty of 1x10(-14) , nu(Yb)=688358 979309312Hz +/-6Hz . We used a femtosecond frequency comb generator to phase-coherently link the optical frequency derived from a single trapped ion to a cesium-fountain-controlled hydrogen maser. This measurement is one of the most accurate measurements of optical frequencies ever reported, and it represents a contribution to the development of optical clocks based on a (171)Yb(+)-ion standard.     

Precision measurement of the three 2(3)P(J) helium fine structure intervals

The three 2(3)P fine structure intervals of 4H are measured at an improved accuracy that is sufficient to test two-electron QED theory and to determine the fine structure constant alpha to 14 parts in 10(9). The more accurate determination of alpha, to a precision higher than attained with the quantum Hall and Josephson effects, awaits the reconciliation of two inconsistent theoretical calculations now being compared term by term. A low pressure helium discharge presents experimental uncertainties quite different than for earlier measurements and allows direct measurements of light pressure shifts.     

Measurement of the (199)Hg+ 5d9 6s2 (2)D(5/2) electric quadrupole moment and a constraint on the quadrupole shift

The electric-quadrupole moment of the (199)Hg+ 5d9 6s2 (2)D(5/2) state is measured to be theta(D,5/2) = -2.29(8) x 10(-40) C m2. This value was determined by measuring the frequency of the (199)Hg+ 5d10 6s (2)S(1/2) --> 5d9 6s2 (2)D(5/2) optical clock transition for different applied electric-field gradients. An isolated, mechanically stable optical cavity provides a frequency reference for the measurement. We compare the results with theoretical calculations and discuss the implications for the accuracy of an atomic clock based upon this transition. We now expect that the frequency shift caused by the interaction of the quadrupole moment with stray electric-field gradients will not limit the accuracy of the Hg+ optical clock at the 10(-18) level.     

High-Resolution Infrared and Millimeter-Wave Study of the Fermi-Coupled v(2) = 1 and v(3) = 2 States of DSiF(3)

The nu(2) (nu(eff.) 854.841 cm(-1)) and 2nu(3) infrared bands (nu(eff.) 840.083 cm(-1)) of DSiF(3) have been studied with a resolution of 2.5 x 10(-3) cm(-1). Moreover, millimeter-wave transitions in the v(2) = 1 and v(3) = 2 states up to J" = 33 have been measured. The assignments and fit of the poorly resolved, compressed cluster-type 2nu(3) IR transitions have been confirmed by a simultaneous study of the 2nu(3)-nu(3) band. The constant W = 5.116 cm(-1) of the Fermi interaction between the v(2) = 1 and v(3) = 2 levels has been determined from frequency effects which are in agreement with relative intensities of the nu(2) and 2nu(3) bands. The deperturbed (B(0) - B(v)) and (C(0) - C(v)) values of the states involved agree with their ab initio predictions within 7% in the worst case. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Determination of the antiproton-to-electron mass ratio by precision laser spectroscopy of pHe+

A femtosecond optical frequency comb and continuous-wave pulse-amplified laser were used to measure 12 transition frequencies of antiprotonic helium to fractional precisions of (9-16)x10(-9). One of these is between two states having microsecond-scale lifetimes hitherto unaccessible to our precision laser spectroscopy method. Comparisons with three-body QED calculations yielded an antiproton-to-electron mass ratio of Mp/me=1836.152674(5).     

Long-distance frequency dissemination with a resolution of 10(-17)

We use a new technique to disseminate microwave reference signals along ordinary optical fiber. The fractional frequency resolution of a link of 86 km in length is 10(-17) for a one day integration time, a resolution higher than the stability of the best microwave or optical clocks. We use the link to compare the microwave reference and a CO2/OsO4 frequency standard that stabilizes a femtosecond laser frequency comb. This demonstrates a resolution of 3 x 10(-14) at 1 s. An upper value of the instability introduced by the femtosecond laser-based synthesizer is estimated as 1 x 10(-14) at 1 s.     

Phase coherent vacuum-ultraviolet to radio frequency comparison with a mode-locked laser

We demonstrate a versatile new technique that provides a phase coherent link between optical frequencies and the radio frequency domain. The regularly spaced comb of modes of a mode-locked femtosecond laser is used as a precise ruler to measure a large frequency gap between two different multiples (harmonics or subharmonics) of a laser frequency. In this way, we have determined a new value of the hydrogen 1S-2S two-photon resonance, f(1S-2S) = 2 466 061 413 187.29(37) kHz, representing now the most accurate measurement of an optical frequency.     

Cs-He混合蒸气中的辐射陷获效应和6P3／2能级有效辐射率的测量

测量了Cs-He混合蒸气中Cs(6P3/2)共振能级的有效辐射率,圆柱形样品池充入金属Cs和气压PHe为0~500Pa的He,样品池温度控制在330~370K之间,在池中产生1012~1013cm-3的Cs原子密度,使用单模半导体激光器(泵浦激光)将Cs原子激发至6P3/2态,另一调谐到6P3/2→8S1/2的单模激光束(检测激光)与泵浦束反平行通过样品池,并在池的直径方向平行移动,通过对检测激光束的吸收测定了激发态原子密度及其空间分布。由于辐射陷获存在,有效辐射率是自然辐射率与透射因子(发射的光子在探测区域内没有被吸收的平均概率,它与吸收截面及激发态原子密度和空间分布有关)的乘积。由6P3/2原子密度及其空间分布结合6P3/2←6S1/2跃迁线的碰撞增宽计算了透射因子,从而得到了不同He气压下,CsD2线的有效辐射率。从6P3/26→S1/2跃迁线强度I852的测量,得到的不同He气压下有效辐射率的比值与理论计算得到的比值相符。     

87Sr lattice clock with inaccuracy below 10 -15

Aided by ultrahigh resolution spectroscopy, the overall systematic uncertainty of the 1S0-3P0 clock resonance for lattice-confined 87Sr has been characterized to 9 x 10(-16). This uncertainty is at a level similar to the Cs-fountain primary standard, while the potential stability for the lattice clocks exceeds that of Cs. The absolute frequency of the clock transition has been measured to be 429 228 004 229 874.0(1.1) Hz, where the 2.5 x 10(-15) fractional uncertainty represents the most accurate measurement of a neutral-atom-based optical transition frequency to date.     

Spectroscopy of the helium 2 3S–2 3P transition above 0.01 Tesla – application to optical pumping studies

Optical pumping of helium makes use of the 2 ³S–2 ³P transition at 1083 nm. We report on a study of this transition in magnetic fields up to 1.5 T. Based on these results, an optical method to measure nuclear polarisation in arbitrary field has been developed. Preliminary results on optical pumping at 0.1 T are presented. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Precise measurement of the J = 1 to J = 2 fine structure interval in the 2( 3)P state of helium

We measure the J = 1 to J = 2 fine structure interval in the ( 3)2P state of helium to be 2 291 175.9(1.0) kHz. We use laser excitation of an atomic beam along with an integrated electro-optic modulator technique to obtain this result. The result is consistent (2.9+/-3.2 kHz) with what could be considered an earlier version of this experiment but is not in good agreement ( 20+/-5 kHz and 22+/-8 kHz) with the two other precision determinations of this interval. The current theoretical prediction lies between and overlaps the experiments.     

Cs(6P)+(Ne,N2)碰撞能量转移

在气体样品池条件下,研究了Cs(6P3/2) (Ne,N2)碰撞能量转移过程.用调频半导体激光器激发Cs原子至Cs(6P3/2)态,在不同的Ne或N2气压下,测量了直接6P3/2→6S1/2荧光和转移6P1/2→6S1/2荧光,对于6P3/2与Ne的碰撞,电子态能量仅能转移为Ne原子的平动能.在与N2的碰撞中,向分子振转态的转移是重要的.利用速率方程分析,可以得到碰撞转移速率系数,对于Ne,6PJ精细结构碰撞转移速率系数为1.45×10-12cm3·s-1.对于N2,测量6P Ne和6P N2二种情况下荧光的相对强度比,确定精细结构速率系数为1.64×10-12cm3·s-1,6P态猝灭速率系数为4.88×10-12cm3·s-1.     

Resonant optical nonlinearity measurement of Yb(3+) / Al(3+) codoped optical fibers by use of a long-period fiber grating pair

A new method of measuring optical nonlinearity for resonant nonlinear optical fibers is proposed. A long-period fiber grating (LPG) pair was used to measure the nonlinear refractive index n(2) of a Yb(3+)/Al (3+) codoped optical fiber, which was spliced between the two LPGs, as the fiber was pumped with a laser diode. The nonlinear refractive index of the Yb(3+)/Al (3+) codoped fiber near 1580 nm depended on the pump power. As the pump power increased, the nonlinear refractive index decreased. At launched pump powers of 2-8 mW, the nonlinear refractive index of the Yb(3+)/Al (3+) codoped fiber near 1580 nm was ~7.5x10(-15)m (2)/W .     

Large nonlinear phase shif towing to cascaded chi((2)) in quasi-phase-matched bulk LiNbO(3)

Large nonresonant effective nonlinear indices that are due to cascading have been observed by Z-scan and CCD camera measurements performed on quasi-phase-matched LiNbO(3). Positive and negative values of n(cascad)(2) were measured at temperatures symmetrically displayed with respect to the optimum phase-matching temperatures (2.39 x 10(-13) and -2.37 x 10(-13)cm(2)/W, respectively).     

Rovibrational Intensities of the (00(0)3) <-- (10(0)0) Dyad Absorption Bands of (12)C(16)O(2)

Absolute line intensities of (12)C(16)O(2) are experimentally measured for the first time for the (00(0)3)(I) <-- (10(0)0)(II) band at 5687.17 cm(-1) and the (00(0)3)(I) <-- (10(0)0)(I) band at 5584.39 cm(-1). The spectra were obtained using a Bomem DA8 Fourier transform spectrometer and a 25-m base-path White cell at NASA-Ames Research Center. The rotationless bandstrengths at a temperature of 296 K and the Herman-Wallis parameters are S(0)(vib) = 6.68(30) x 10(-25) cm(-1)/(molecule/cm(2)); A(1) = 1.4(9) x 10(-4), and A(2) = -1.1(5) x 10(-5) for the (00(0)3)(I) <-- (10(0)0)(II) band and S(0)(vib) = 6.07(22) x 10(-25) cm(-1)/(molecule/cm(2)); A(1) = 5.2(1.5) x 10(-4) and A(2) = -4.0(7) x 10(-5) for the (00(0)3)(I) <-- (10(0)0)(I) band.     

Cs(6P)激发态的辐射及与N2碰撞的能量转移

应用激光吸收和荧光方法,测量了Cs(6P)态与N2碰撞的精细结构转移和碰撞猝灭截面。Cs原子被激光激发到6P3/2态,将与泵浦激光束反向平行的检测激光束调到6PJ→8S1/2的跃迁,测量了6PJ激发态的密度及空间分布,由此计算了6PJ→6S的有效辐射率。在T=337 K(蒸气压公式给出Cs密度N0=1.25×1012cm-3)和N2密度2×1016相似文献   

氦原子2~3S—2~3P精密光谱研究

氦原子是最基本的多电子原子,其精密谱是十分理想的检验多电子量子电动力学计算的平台,同时也是利用原子能级结构测定精细结构常数α的理想体系,还能获得原子核结构信息.本文结合我们团队的工作,综述基于氦原子的少体原子精密光谱研究.其中,主要包括氦原子2~3P_J精细结构分裂,以及2~3S—2~3P跃迁频率测定等研究,并对相关工作的前景进行了展望.     

Precision microwave measurement of the 2 3P1-2 3P2 interval in atomic helium

The 2 3P1-to- 2 3P2 interval in atomic helium is measured using a thermal beam of metastable helium atoms excited to the 2 3P state using a 1.08-&mgr;m diode laser. The 2 3P1-to- 2 3P2 transition is driven by 2.29-GHz microwaves in a coaxial transmission line. Our result of 2 291 174.0+/-1.4 kHz is the most precise measurement of helium 2 3P fine structure. This measurement plays a key role in obtaining a new value for the fine-structure constant.