Ratchet Loading and Multi-Ensemble Operation in an Optical Lattice Clock

Published

August 8, 2024

Author(s)

Youssef Hassan, Takumi Kobayashi, Tobias Bothwell, Jacob Siegel, Benjamin Hunt, Kyle Beloy, Kurt Gibble, Tanner Grogan, Andrew Ludlow

Abstract

We demonstrate programmable control over the spatial distribution of ultra-cold atoms confined in an optical lattice. The control is facilitated through a combination of spatial manipulation of the magneto-optical trap and atomic population shelving to a metastable state. We first employ the technique to load an extended (5-mm) atomic sample with uniform density in an optical lattice clock, reducing atomic interactions and realizing remarkable frequency homogeneity across the atomic cloud. We also prepare multiple spatially separated atomic ensembles, and realize multi-ensemble clock operation within the standard 1D optical lattice clock architecture. Leveraging this technique, we prepare two oppositely spin-polarized ensembles that are independently addressable, offering a platform for implementing spectroscopic protocols for enhanced tracking of local oscillator phase. Finally, we demonstrate a relative fractional frequency instability at one second of $2.4(1) \times10^-17}$ between two ensembles, useful for characterisation of intra-lattice differential systematics.

Citation

Quantum Science and Technology

Volume

9

Issue

4

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1088/2058-9565/ad6286

Local Download

Keywords

Ultra-cold atoms, Magneto-Optical trap, Optical lattice, Atomic clock, Multi-ensemble, Atomic collisions, Ratchet loading

Citation

Hassan, Y. , Kobayashi, T. , Bothwell, T. , Siegel, J. , Hunt, B. , Beloy, K. , Gibble, K. , Grogan, T. and Ludlow, A. (2024), Ratchet Loading and Multi-Ensemble Operation in an Optical Lattice Clock, Quantum Science and Technology, [online], https://doi.org/10.1088/2058-9565/ad6286, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=957974 (Accessed October 9, 2025)