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Abstract Optical atomic clocks are the most accurate and precise measurement devices of any kind, enabling advances in international timekeeping, Earth science, fundamental physics, and more. However, there is a fundamental tradeoff between accuracy and precision, where higher precision is achieved by using more atoms, but this comes at the cost of larger interactions between the atoms that limit the accuracy. Here, we propose a many-ion optical atomic clock based on three-dimensional Coulomb crystals of order one thousand Sn2+ions confined in a linear RF Paul trap with the potential to overcome this limitation. Sn2+has a unique combination of features that is not available in previously considered ions: a1S0 ↔ 3P0clock transition between two states with zero electronic and nuclear angular momentum (I = J = F = 0) making it immune to nonscalar perturbations, a negative differential polarizability making it possible to operate the trap in a manner such that the two dominant shifts for three-dimensional ion crystals cancel each other, and a laser-accessible transition suitable for direct laser cooling and state readout. We present calculations of the differential polarizability, other relevant atomic properties, and the motion of ions in large Coulomb crystals, in order to estimate the achievable accuracy and precision of Sn2+Coulomb-crystal clocks.
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This content will become publicly available on April 1, 2026
Structural Transitions and Melting of Two-Dimensional Ion Crystals in RF Traps
We investigate the structural properties and melting behaviors of two-dimensional ion crystals in an RF trap, focusing on the effects of ion temperature and trap potential symmetry. We identify distinct crystal structures that form under varying trapping conditions and temperatures through experimental observations and theoretical analyses. As the temperature increases or the trap potential becomes more symmetric, we observe a transition from a lattice arrangement to elongated ring-like formations aligned along the trap axes. Our experimental and theoretical efforts enhance our understanding of phase transitions in low-dimensional, confined systems, offering insights into the controlled formation of quantum crystals for applications in quantum simulations and many-body physics.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2308999
- PAR ID:
- 10625112
- Publisher / Repository:
- MDPI
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Entropy
- Volume:
- 27
- Issue:
- 4
- ISSN:
- 1099-4300
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 325
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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We propose a many-ion optical atomic clock based on three-dimensional Coulomb crystals of order one thousand Sn2+ ions confined in a linear RF Paul trap. Sn2+ has a unique combination of features that is not available in previously considered ions: a 1S0 ↔ 3P0 clock transition between two states with zero electronic and nuclear angular momentum (I = J = F = 0) making it immune to nonscalar perturbations, a negative differential polarizability making it possible to operate the trap in a manner such that the two dominant shifts for three-dimensional ion crystals cancel each other, and a laser-accessible transition suitable for direct laser cooling and state readout. We present analytical calculations of the differential polarizability and other relevant atomic properties, as well as numerical calculations of the motion of ions in large Coulomb crystals, to estimate the achievable accuracy and precision of Sn2+ Coulomb-crystal clocks.more » « less
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