Thermal dynamics of cold atoms in171Yb optical lattice clocks

Abstract

The ultracold atoms served as quantum references is a key part of optical lattice clocks, and the thermal dynamics of the atoms in the optical lattice affects the uncertainty and stability of the lattice clocks. Since the carrier spectrum of clock transition in lattices reflects the thermal dynamics of cold atoms, we can obtain the temperature of atoms by measuring the carrier spectrum in 171Yb optical lattice clocks. Furthermore we find that the temperatures obtained from the carrier spectra are in a good agreement with the results obtained by using methods of time-of-flight and thermometry based on sideband spectrum. In addition, we study the heating effects caused by the lattice laser in ytterbium optical lattice clocks.