Measurement of the Differential Static Scalar Polarizability of the $^\mathbf{88}$Sr$^{+}$ Clock Transition

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Main Authors: Lindvall, T., Hanhijärvi, K. J., Fordell, T., Wallin, A. E.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Lindvall, T.
Hanhijärvi, K. J.
Fordell, T.
Wallin, A. E.
author_facet Lindvall, T.
Hanhijärvi, K. J.
Fordell, T.
Wallin, A. E.
contents We report on a precision measurement of the differential static scalar polarizability $Δα_0$ of the ${}^{2}\!S_{1/2} \rightarrow {}^{2}\!D_{5/2}$ optical clock transition in the $^{88}$Sr$^{+}$ ion. The polarizability was determined from the 'magic' ion-trap drive frequency where the micromotion-induced second-order Doppler and quadratic Stark shifts cancel, using a single clock in an interleaved scheme by switching between minimized and large micromotion. By measuring at different Mathieu $q_z$ parameters, $Δα_0$ can be obtained without prior knowledge of the angle between the rf electric field and the trap axis, which would otherwise dominate the systematic uncertainty. For validation, measurements were carried out at different micromotion levels and by displacing the ion in opposite directions. The results show excellent consistency and our value, $Δα_0 = -4.8314(20)\times 10^{-40}\;\mathrm{J\, m^2/V^2} = -29.303(12)\;\mathrm{au}$, reduces the uncertainty by a factor of 3.5 compared to a previous measurement, while showing a discrepancy of $5 σ$. Our measurement reduces the polarizability-related uncertainty of the $^{88}$Sr$^{+}$ clock to $2.2\times 10^{-19}$ for a blackbody radiation temperature of 295 K -- a significant step towards total uncertainties ${<}1\times10^{-18}$. Using existing polarizability transfer schemes, the result can reduce the uncertainty also for other ion species.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_02603
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Measurement of the Differential Static Scalar Polarizability of the $^\mathbf{88}$Sr$^{+}$ Clock Transition
Lindvall, T.
Hanhijärvi, K. J.
Fordell, T.
Wallin, A. E.
Atomic Physics
We report on a precision measurement of the differential static scalar polarizability $Δα_0$ of the ${}^{2}\!S_{1/2} \rightarrow {}^{2}\!D_{5/2}$ optical clock transition in the $^{88}$Sr$^{+}$ ion. The polarizability was determined from the 'magic' ion-trap drive frequency where the micromotion-induced second-order Doppler and quadratic Stark shifts cancel, using a single clock in an interleaved scheme by switching between minimized and large micromotion. By measuring at different Mathieu $q_z$ parameters, $Δα_0$ can be obtained without prior knowledge of the angle between the rf electric field and the trap axis, which would otherwise dominate the systematic uncertainty. For validation, measurements were carried out at different micromotion levels and by displacing the ion in opposite directions. The results show excellent consistency and our value, $Δα_0 = -4.8314(20)\times 10^{-40}\;\mathrm{J\, m^2/V^2} = -29.303(12)\;\mathrm{au}$, reduces the uncertainty by a factor of 3.5 compared to a previous measurement, while showing a discrepancy of $5 σ$. Our measurement reduces the polarizability-related uncertainty of the $^{88}$Sr$^{+}$ clock to $2.2\times 10^{-19}$ for a blackbody radiation temperature of 295 K -- a significant step towards total uncertainties ${<}1\times10^{-18}$. Using existing polarizability transfer schemes, the result can reduce the uncertainty also for other ion species.
title Measurement of the Differential Static Scalar Polarizability of the $^\mathbf{88}$Sr$^{+}$ Clock Transition
topic Atomic Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.02603