Development of a 171Yb+ Microwave Frequency Standard at the National Measurement Institute, Australia

R. B. Warrington, P. T. H. Fisk, M. J. Wouters, M. A. Lawn, J. J. Longdell, S. J. Park

Abstract:	Microwave frequency standards based on the 12.6 GHz ground state hyperfine transition in 171Yb+ have been under development at the National Measurement Institute, Australia, for many years. Using a laser-cooled ion cloud, the transition frequency was measured in 2001 to an accuracy of 8 parts in 1014, limited by the homogeneity of the magnetic field due to the stainless-steel vacuum chamber. We have designed and commissioned a new chamber in the novel alloy CrCu, which is non-magnetic and has good vacuum properties. The design incorporates large viewports and high-quality quartz windows for optical access. Uncertainties associated with field inhomogeneity in the new vacuum system are now below 1 part in 1015, a significant reduction which permits operation in the 10–15 accuracy range. We have also demonstrated the use of photoionization to load the trap in a preliminary experiment, including isotope-selective loading.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 37th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting August 29 - 31, 2005 Vancouver, Canada
Pages:	611 - 615
Cite this article:	Warrington, R. B., Fisk, P. T. H., Wouters, M. J., Lawn, M. A., Longdell, J. J., Park, S. J., "Development of a 171Yb+ Microwave Frequency Standard at the National Measurement Institute, Australia," Proceedings of the 37th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, Vancouver, Canada, August 2005, pp. 611-615.
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In