Frequency ratio of the $^{229\mathrm{m}}$Th nuclear isomeric transition and the $^{87}$Sr atomic clock

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2406.18719v2
• Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2024 16:19:05 GMT
• Title: Frequency ratio of the $^{229\mathrm{m}}$Th nuclear isomeric transition and the $^{87}$Sr atomic clock
• Authors: Chuankun Zhang, Tian Ooi, Jacob S. Higgins, Jack F. Doyle, Lars von der Wense, Kjeld Beeks, Adrian Leitner, Georgy Kazakov, Peng Li, Peter G. Thirolf, Thorsten Schumm, Jun Ye,
• Abstract summary: Thorium-229 nuclei exhibit a uniquely low energy nuclear transition within reach of state-of-the-art vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) laser light sources. We use a VUV frequency comb to excite the narrow $229$Th nuclear clock transition in a solid-state CaF$$ host material. This VUV comb establishes a frequency link between nuclear and electronic energy levels and allows us to directly measure the frequency ratio of the $229$Th nuclear clock transition and the $87$Sr atomic clock.
• Score: 2.7896543155588804
• License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
• Abstract: Optical atomic clocks$^{1,2}$ use electronic energy levels to precisely keep track of time. A clock based on nuclear energy levels promises a next-generation platform for precision metrology and fundamental physics studies. Thorium-229 nuclei exhibit a uniquely low energy nuclear transition within reach of state-of-the-art vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) laser light sources and have therefore been proposed for construction of the first nuclear clock$^{3,4}$. However, quantum state-resolved spectroscopy of the $^{229m}$Th isomer to determine the underlying nuclear structure and establish a direct frequency connection with existing atomic clocks has yet to be performed. Here, we use a VUV frequency comb to directly excite the narrow $^{229}$Th nuclear clock transition in a solid-state CaF$_2$ host material and determine the absolute transition frequency. We stabilize the fundamental frequency comb to the JILA $^{87}$Sr clock$^2$ and coherently upconvert the fundamental to its 7th harmonic in the VUV range using a femtosecond enhancement cavity. This VUV comb establishes a frequency link between nuclear and electronic energy levels and allows us to directly measure the frequency ratio of the $^{229}$Th nuclear clock transition and the $^{87}$Sr atomic clock. We also precisely measure the nuclear quadrupole splittings and extract intrinsic properties of the isomer. These results mark the start of nuclear-based solid-state optical clock and demonstrate the first comparison of nuclear and atomic clocks for fundamental physics studies. This work represents a confluence of precision metrology, ultrafast strong field physics, nuclear physics, and fundamental physics.

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