Mainz 2026 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 27: Poster – Precision Spectroscopy of Atoms and Ions (joint session A/Q)

Q 27.7: Poster

Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 17:00–19:00, Philo 1. OG

Development of a cryogenic Paul trap setup for high-precision quantum-logic spectroscopy — •Stepan Kokh, Magdalena Winkelvoß, Anton Sterr, Sophia Dorra, Melina Gizewski, Finja Mayer, Maili Schube, José R. Crespo López-Urrutia, Thomas Pfeifer, and Vera M. Schäfer — Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Heidelberg

Several theories for physics beyond the standard model predict a variation of the fine-structure constant α. The current upper limit on its variation is set by high-precision spectroscopy in singly charged
ytterbium. Cf¹⁵⁺ and Cf¹⁷⁺ offer higher sensitivity to α and low sensitivity to external perturbations, thereby opening the potential to improve on these bounds. To achieve the required precision, care must be taken in the design of the experiment to minimise systematic errors. Here, we present a Paul trap setup designed to fulfill these requirements. Two Paul trap setups are placed on the same optical table, to perform frequency comparison between the two charge states. For improved vacuum, to suppress charge exchange with the HCIs, the Paul trap environment needs to be cooled to 4K. This is achieved through a closed-cycle cryocooler with a helium gas-exchange interface that should reduce the vibrations at the trap to below 10 nm. A superconducting niobium shield is installed around the 4K stage to suppress magnetic field noise and increase the coherence time. The system is designed for fast and easy assembly and cool-down to simplify debugging issues inside the vacuum chamber.

Keywords: Highly Charged Ions; Paul Trap; Cryogenic Setup; Fine-Structure Constant