Scrutinizing Al-like V10+51,Cr11+53,Mn12+55,Fe13+57,Co14+59,Ni15+61 , and Cu16+63 ions for atomic clocks with uncertainties below the 10−19 level

Abstract

We investigate the transition between the fine structure levels of the ground state, $3p{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{P}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3p{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{P}_{3/2}$, of the highly charged Al-like $^{51}\mathrm{V}^{10+},\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}^{53}\mathrm{Cr}^{11+},\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}^{55}\mathrm{Mn}^{12+},\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}^{57}\mathrm{Fe}^{13+},\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}^{59}\mathrm{Co}^{14+},\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}^{61}\mathrm{Ni}^{15+}$, and $^{63}\mathrm{Cu}^{16+}$ ions for frequency standards. To comprehend them as prospective atomic clocks, we determine their transition wavelengths, quality factors, and various plausible systematics during the measurements. Since most of these ions have nuclear spin $I=3/2$, uncertainties due to dominant quadrupole shifts can be evaded in the $F=0$ hyperfine level of the $3p{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}{P}_{3/2}$ state. Other dominant systematics such as quadratic Stark and black-body radiation shifts have been evaluated precisely demonstrating the feasibility of achieving high accuracy, below ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}19}$ fractional uncertainty, atomic clocks using the above transitions. Moreover, relativistic sensitivity coefficients are determined to find out the aptness of these proposed clocks to investigate possible temporal variation of the fine structure constant. To carry out these analysis, a relativistic coupled-cluster method considering Dirac-Coulomb-Breit Hamiltonian along with lower-order quantum electrodynamics interactions is employed and many spectroscopic properties are evaluated. These properties are also of immense interest for astrophysical studies.