A New Clock Transition with the Highest Sensitivity to $\alpha$
Variation and Simultaneous Magic Trapping Conditions with Other Clock
Transitions in Yb
posted on 2023-01-12, 16:05authored byZhi-Ming Tang, Yan-mei Yu, B. K. Sahoo, Chen-Zhong Dong, Yang Yang, Yaming Zou
Optical lattice clocks are the prospective devices that can probe many subtle physics including temporal variation of the fine structure constant ($\alpha_e$). These studies necessitate high-precision measurements of atomic clock frequency ratios to unprecedented accuracy. In contrast to the earlier claimed highest sensitive coefficient ($K$) clock transition to $\alpha_e$ in Yb [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 120}, 173001 (2018)], we found the $4f^{14}6s6p\,(^3P_2) - 4f^{13}5d6s^{2}\,(^3P_2^*)$ transition of this atom can serve as the clock transition with the largest $K$ value (about $-$25(2)). Moreover, we demonstrate a scheme to attain simultaneous magic trapping conditions for this clock transition with the other two proposed clock transitions $4f^{14}6s^2\,(^1S_0) - 4f^{14}6s6p\,(^3P_2)$ and $4f^{14}6s^2\,(^1S_0) - 4f^{13}5d6s^{2}\,(^3P_2^*)$; also exhibiting large $K$ values. This magic condition can be realized by subjecting Yb atoms to a bias magnetic field at a particular polarization angle along the quantization axis in an experimental set up. Upon realization, it will serve as the most potential optical lattice clock to probe $\alpha_e$ variation.