High-accuracy optical clocks based on group 16-like highly charged ions

Abstract

We identify laser-accessible transitions in group 16-like highly charged ions as candidates for high-accuracy optical clocks, including S-, Se-, and Te-like systems. For this class of ions, the ground ${}^3{P}_J$ fine structure manifold exhibits irregular (nonmonotonic in $J$) energy ordering for large enough ionization degree. We consider the ${|}^3{P}_2⟩⟷{|}^3{P}_0⟩$ (ground to first-excited state) electric quadrupole transition, performing relativistic many-body calculations of several atomic properties important for optical clock development. All ions discussed are suitable for production in small-scale ion sources and lend themselves to sympathetic cooling and quantum-logic readout with singly charged ions.

9 pages, 1 figure

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