Hannover 2013 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 35: Poster I

Q 35.80: Poster

Tuesday, March 19, 2013, 16:00–18:30, Empore Lichthof

Optical traps for a magnesium frequency standard — •Klaus Zipfel, André Kulosa, Steffen Rühmann, Dominika Fim, Temmo Wübbena, André Pape, Wolfgang Ertmer, and Ernst Rasel — Institut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1, 30167 Hannover, Germany

Optical atomic clocks offer a significantly higher accuracy and stability compared to microwave atomic clocks and thus will allow more precise frequency measurements. As alkaline earth element magnesium features narrow transitions suitable for an optical atomic clock.
State-of-the-art optical clocks with neutral atoms rely on atoms trapped in an optical lattice at the magic wavelength. For magnesium, loading the optical lattice directly from a magneto optical trap (MOT) is not possible because of high temperatures and ionization losses from the upper ³D_j MOT-states induced by the lattice light. This requires an optical dipole trap at 1064 nm as intermediate step, which is continuously loaded. The technical setup and performance of both optical traps will be presented in detail.