Trap-induced ac Zeeman shift of the thorium-229 nuclear clock frequency

Published

March 8, 2023

Author(s)

Kyle Beloy

Abstract

We examine the effect of a parasitic rf magnetic field, attributed to ion trapping, on the highly anticipated nuclear clock based on $^229}$Th$^3+}$ [C. J. Campbell \it et al.}, Phys.\ Rev.\ Lett.\ 108, 120802 (2012)]. The rf magnetic field induces an ac Zeeman shift to the clock frequency. As we demonstrate, this shift threatens to be the dominant systematic frequency shift for the clock, exceeding other systematic frequency shifts and the projected systematic uncertainty of the clock by orders of magnitude. We propose practical means to suppress or eliminate this shift.

Citation

Physical Review Letters

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

atomic clock, nuclear clock

Citation

Beloy, K. (2023), Trap-induced ac Zeeman shift of the thorium-229 nuclear clock frequency, Physical Review Letters, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=934770 (Accessed October 14, 2025)