Precision Measurement of Transition Matrix Elements via Light Shift Cancellation

C. D. Herold, V. D. Vaidya, X. Li, S. L. Rolston, J. V. Porto, and M. S. Safronova
Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 243003 – Published 14 December 2012
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Abstract

We present a method for accurate determination of atomic transition matrix elements at the 103 level. Measurements of the ac Stark (light) shift around “magic-zero” wavelengths, where the light shift vanishes, provide precise constraints on the matrix elements. We make the first measurement of the 5s6p matrix elements in rubidium by measuring the light shift around the 421 and 423 nm zeros through diffraction of a condensate off a sequence of standing wave pulses. In conjunction with existing theoretical and experimental data, we find 0.3235(9)ea0 and 0.5230(8)ea0 for the 5s6p1/2 and 5s6p3/2 elements, respectively, an order of magnitude more accurate than the best theoretical values. This technique can provide needed, accurate matrix elements for many atoms, including those used in atomic clocks, tests of fundamental symmetries, and quantum information.

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  • Received 20 August 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.243003

© 2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

C. D. Herold*, V. D. Vaidya, X. Li, S. L. Rolston, and J. V. Porto

  • Joint Quantum Institute, University of Maryland and NIST, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA

M. S. Safronova

  • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA

  • *cherold@umd.edu

See Also

Measurement of a Wavelength of Light for Which the Energy Shift for an Atom Vanishes

William F. Holmgren, Raisa Trubko, Ivan Hromada, and Alexander D. Cronin
Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 243004 (2012)

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Vol. 109, Iss. 24 — 14 December 2012

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