An optical frequency standard based on ultracold magnesium atoms

Non-equilibrium long-range phase transition in cold atoms : theory and experiment

“…Magnesium has other uses in the production in iron, steel and titanium. In atomic physics, magnesium is a potential candidate for next generation frequency standards [87]. It is however less developed compare to current Sr and Yb optical standards.…”

“…As the inelastic collision rate varies as n 2 and the elastic scattering rate varies as n. The trick to reach degeneracy on this isotope is to lower the density [103]. Finally, the most abundant Bosonic isotope 88 Sr was brought to degeneracy by sympathetic cooling with its Fermionic counterpart 87 Sr [104].…”

“…• The singlet to triplet 1 S 0 → 3 P 1 which is dipole semi-forbidden 6 due to the required spin-flip is an example of metastable state The other principal state of interest is the 3 P 0 , whose linewidth is near zero for bosonic isotopes in the absence of external fields, while it is close to ∼ 1 mHz for the 87 Sr due to the hyperfine interaction. The reason is the following.…”

“…This is the case for the 3 P 0 state in 88 Sr. However, while switching to the 87 Sr , the non-zero nuclear spin allows hyperfine interaction with higher states and gives a finite linewidth [118] to the state. Hyperfine mixed states are among the favorite candidates to create frequency standards [119].…”

“…Several topics where covered over the last few years from coherent superflashes [121,122] to non-Abelian gauge fields [84]. The experimental setup is designed for either Fermionic 87 Sr and Bosonic 88 Sr species of strontium. Since we work with the Bosonic 88 Sr, which has zero nuclear spin, the complex energy structure simplifies to minimal one represented in figure IV.2, which will be enough to explain each stages of the experiment.…”