C. Coles

Laser cooling of 171Yb+ ions in a linear paul trap

We report laser cooling of trapped 171Yb+ ions. The ions are confined in a linear Paul trap. Temperatures below 1 K have been achieved, and evidence of a phase transition to a crystal-like state has been observed. The metastable 2D3/2 level is drained using a transition at 609.1 nm not previously used for this purpose. Laser cooling of 171Yb+ may be of importance to the development of new microwave frequency standards.

Very high Q microwave spectroscopy on trapped /sup 171/Yb/sup +/ ions: application as a frequency standard

A microwave frequency standard based on buffer-gas cooled /sup 171/Yb/sup +/ ions confined in a linear Paul trap has been demonstrated in prototype form. The standard exhibits a fractional frequency instability characterized by an Allan deviation /spl sigma//sub y/(/spl tau/)=3.7/spl times/10/sup -13//spl tau//sup -1/2/ for /spl tau/ >

Performance of a prototype microwave frequency standard based on laser-detected, trapped171Yb+ ions

A microwave frequency standard based on buffer gas-cooled171Yb+ ions confined in a linear Paul trap has been demonstrated in prototype form. The standard exhibits a fractional frequency instability characterised by an Allan deviation of σ(y(τ) = 2.9 × 10−13τ−1/2 for τ < 2 × 104 s. Factors affecting the stability of the standard have been systematically investigated.

Performance of a prototype microwave frequency standard based on trapped /sup 171/Yb/sup +/ ions

A microwave frequency standard based on buffer-gas cooled /sup 171/Yb/sup +/ ions confined in a linear Paul trap has been demonstrated in prototype form. The standard exhibits a fractional Allan deviation /spl sigma//sub y/(/spl tau/)=3.7/spl times/10/sup -13/ /spl tau//sup -1/2/ for /spl tau/<3000 s.<<ETX>>

Very-high Q microwave resonances in trapped /sup 171/Yb/sup +/ ions: application as a microwave frequency standard

The 12.6 GHz microwave resonance in /sup 171/Yb/sup +/ ions confined in a linear Paul trap is interrogated using a cryogenic sapphire resonator-based microwave source. Line Q factors of up to 1.1/spl times/10/sup 13/ have been observed. We report on the performance of the ion trap-sapphire resonator system as a prototype 12.6 GHz frequency standard.<<ETX>>