Abstract
Collisions between background gas particles and the trapped ion in an atomic clock can subtly shift the frequency of the clock transition. The uncertainty in the correction for this effect makes a significant contribution to the total systematic uncertainty budget of trapped-ion clocks. Using a non-perturbative analytic framework that was developed for this problem, we estimate the frequency shift in Al$^+$ ion clocks due to collisions with helium and hydrogen. Our calculations significantly improve the uncertainties in the collisional shift coefficients, and show that the collisional frequency shifts for Al$^+$ are zero to within uncertainty.
Highlights
The present generation of optical atomic clocks, using neutral atoms in optical lattices or atomic ions in ion traps, are the most stable timekeepers that have ever been constructed [1]
Our calculations significantly improve the uncertainties in the collisional shift coefficients and show that the collisional frequency shifts for Al+ are zero to within uncertainty
We significantly extend the methods developed in Ref. [11] and apply it to a problem of immediate relevance: We develop a master equation that includes both unitary and nonunitary effects of collisions and use it to calculate the CFS for Al+ clock ions colliding with hydrogen molecules and helium atoms
Summary
The present generation of optical atomic clocks, using neutral atoms in optical lattices or atomic ions in ion traps, are the most stable timekeepers that have ever been constructed [1]. Collisions between background gas particles and the trapped ion in an atomic clock can subtly shift the frequency of the clock transition.
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