• Featured in Physics
  • Editors' Suggestion

Frequency Ratio of Two Optical Clock Transitions in Yb+171 and Constraints on the Time Variation of Fundamental Constants

R. M. Godun, P. B. R. Nisbet-Jones, J. M. Jones, S. A. King, L. A. M. Johnson, H. S. Margolis, K. Szymaniec, S. N. Lea, K. Bongs, and P. Gill
Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 210801 – Published 17 November 2014
Physics logo See Viewpoint: Time Trials for Fundamental Constants

Abstract

Singly ionized ytterbium, with ultranarrow optical clock transitions at 467 and 436 nm, is a convenient system for the realization of optical atomic clocks and tests of present-day variation of fundamental constants. We present the first direct measurement of the frequency ratio of these two clock transitions, without reference to a cesium primary standard, and using the same single ion of Yb+171. The absolute frequencies of both transitions are also presented, each with a relative standard uncertainty of 6×1016. Combining our results with those from other experiments, we report a threefold improvement in the constraint on the time variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio, μ˙/μ=0.2(1.1)×1016yr1, along with an improved constraint on time variation of the fine structure constant, α˙/α=0.7(2.1)×1017yr1.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 30 June 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.210801

© 2014 American Physical Society

Viewpoint

Key Image

Time Trials for Fundamental Constants

Published 17 November 2014

Single-ion clocks yield new limits on how much the proton-to-electron mass ratio and the fine structure constant change over time.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

R. M. Godun1,*, P. B. R. Nisbet-Jones1, J. M. Jones1,2, S. A. King1, L. A. M. Johnson1, H. S. Margolis1, K. Szymaniec1, S. N. Lea1, K. Bongs2, and P. Gill1

  • 1National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington TW11 0LW, United Kingdom
  • 2School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom

  • *rachel.godun@npl.co.uk

See Also

Improved Limit on a Temporal Variation of mp/me from Comparisons of Yb+ and Cs Atomic Clocks

N. Huntemann, B. Lipphardt, Chr. Tamm, V. Gerginov, S. Weyers, and E. Peik
Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 210802 (2014)

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 113, Iss. 21 — 21 November 2014

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×