Lifetimes of the Metastable $6\mathrm{d}{}^2{\mathrm{D}}_{5/2}$ and $6\mathrm{d}{}^2{\mathrm{D}}_{3/2}$ States of Ra${}^{+}$

Abstract

We report lifetime measurements of the metastable $6\mathrm{d}{}^2{\mathrm{D}}_{5/2}$ and $6\mathrm{d}{}^2{\mathrm{D}}_{3/2}$ states of Ra${}^{+}$. The measured lifetimes, ${\tau }_5=$ 303.8(1.5) ms and ${\tau }_3=$ 642(9) ms, are important for optical frequency standards and for benchmarking high-precision relativistic atomic theory. Independent of the reported measurements, the D state lifetimes were calculated using the coupled-cluster single double triple method, in which the coupled-cluster equations for both core and valence triple excitations were solved iteratively. The method was designed for precise prediction of atomic properties, especially for heavy elements, where relativistic and correlation corrections become large, making their treatment more challenging. This Letter presents the first tests of the method for transition properties. Our prediction agrees with experimental values within the uncertainties. The ability to accurately predict the atomic properties of heavy elements is important for many applications, from tests of fundamental symmetries to the development of optical clocks.

11 pages, 8 figures

References in corpus (15)

• An ${}^{27}$Al${}^{+}$ quantum-logic clock with systematic uncertainty below $10^{-18}$
• Calculations of parity nonconserving s-d transitions in Cs, Fr, Ba II, and Ra II
• Opportunities for Fundamental Physics Research with Radioactive Molecules
• QED shifts in multivalent heavy ions
• Calculation of parity nonconserving amplitude and other properties of Ra+
• Investigations of Ra${}^{+}$ properties to test possibilities of new optical frequency standards
• Optical clocks based on the Cf${}^{15+}$ and Cf${}^{17+}$ ions
• Radium Ion Optical Clock
• Precision calculation of hyperfine constants for extracting nuclear moments of 229Th
• Laser Cooling of Radium Ions
• Measurement of the $7p{}^2{P}_{3/2}$ state branching fractions in ${\mathrm{Ra}}^{+}$
• Laser cooling and trapping of ${}^{224}$Ra${}^{+}$
• Measurement of the Ra${}^{+}$ $7p$ ${}^2{P}_{3/2}$ state lifetime
• Spectroscopy of electric dipole and quadrupole transitions in ${}^{224}$Ra${}^{+}$
• Lifetimes of the Metastable $6\mathrm{d}{}^2{\mathrm{D}}_{5/2}$ and $6\mathrm{d}{}^2{\mathrm{D}}_{3/2}$ States of Ra${}^{+}$

Cited by in corpus (2)

• Lifetimes of the Metastable $6\mathrm{d}{}^2{\mathrm{D}}_{5/2}$ and $6\mathrm{d}{}^2{\mathrm{D}}_{3/2}$ States of Ra${}^{+}$
• Laser Cooling and Hyperfine Measurements of Radium-225 Ions