Prospects of a Pb^{2+} Ion Clock

Area of Science:

• Atomic Physics
• Quantum Optics
• Metrology

Background:

• Atomic clocks are crucial for precise timekeeping and scientific measurement.
• Existing atomic clock technologies face limitations due to various frequency shifts and decoherence mechanisms.
• Doubly ionized lead presents a promising candidate for next-generation atomic clocks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a high-performance atomic clock design utilizing the 1.81 PHz transition in doubly ionized lead.
• To investigate the properties of the chosen clock states for enhanced stability and reduced systematic errors.
• To evaluate the feasibility and potential advantages of this novel atomic clock concept.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing an even isotope of lead for clock states with I=J=F=0.
• Leveraging the immunity of these states to nonscalar perturbations like Zeeman and electric quadrupole shifts.
• Employing a two-photon E1+M1 process to drive the atomic transition.
• Considering "magic" radiofrequency trapping for improved coherence.

Main Results:

• The proposed clock states are nondegenerate and immune to first-order Zeeman and electric quadrupole shifts.
• The design is robust against blackbody radiation, second-order Zeeman, and Doppler shifts.
• The clock is resilient to decoherence mechanisms limiting stability.
• The probe Stark shift, while appreciable, is manageable for practical applications.

Conclusions:

• The proposed doubly ionized lead atomic clock offers a pathway to significantly enhanced performance and stability.
• The unique properties of the selected atomic states minimize systematic errors, leading to higher accuracy.
• This research paves the way for advancements in fundamental physics and metrology through superior timekeeping.