Frequency metrology at the 10^−18 level with an ytterbium ion optical clock

Thesis

Atomic clocks, the most accurate instruments in existence, are reaching new levels of precision. These devices now find novel uses—from the exploration of relativity [1] to the detection of dark matter [2, 3]—all from same principle: measurement of the frequency of the light that excites a reference atomic transition. The ²S_1/2 (F 0) → ²F_7/2 (F 3) electric octupole (E3) transition in ¹⁷¹Yb⁺, with its Δν ≈ 1 nHz [4] linewidth...

Expand abstract

Authors: Baynham, C

• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: optical clock; atomic clock; frequency; time; metrology; atomic physics; ytterbium
• Subjects: atomic physics; trapped ions; frequency metrology