Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We find through direct, time-domain measurement of trapped $\mathrm{Yb}^+$ ions that the excited ${}^3[11/2]_{9/2}^o$ state has a collision-free lifetime of 17.8(6) min, long enough for use in atomic clockwork or quantum information processing. We locate and benchmark a broad ``repump'' transition at $701\, \mathrm{nm}$ that readily transfers population back into the Doppler cooling cycle with the ground state, which may allow for quantum nondemolition measurement of sub-structure in the metastable manifold. Using a bi-stable Coulomb-crystal manometer, we find that the collisional quenching of this metastable ${}^3[11/2]_{9/2}^o$ manifold by background gas is more efficient than for ${}^2\mathrm{F}_{7/2}^o$, but nonetheless we observe an average lifetime exceeding 10 minutes at the base pressure of our apparatus.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: QLCI-CI: NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Present and Future Quantum Computing, Developing Molecules with Atomic Transitions, G4639932191, G5087702650, G5363092874, Exploring Open Channel Operations with Atomic Qubits as A Processing and Measurement Resource, G7452299184, G8092314231
OpenAlex ID: W7212172663