Progress toward an isotope shift measurement with a strontium molecular lattice clock

Brandon Iritani, Columbia University
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PAB B421

The straightforward molecular structure, insensitivity to external fields, and existence of narrow optical transitions in Sr2 make it an attractive platform for a molecular clock. Additionally, it possesses an array of clock transitions in the elusive THz frequency range and offers the capability to perform precise tests of quantum chemistry. Previously, we characterized the total fractional systematic uncertainty for a vibrational transition in 88Sr₂ to less than 5×10⁻¹⁴. Looking ahead, we plan to utilize a novel technique to constrain gravity-like Yukawa forces by comparing molecular isotope shift measurements to state-of-the-art quantum chemistry calculations. This approach relies on the existence of several bosonic Sr isotopes and on a ground-state molecular energy structure that is feasible, though challenging, to describe theoretically.  In this talk, I will discuss our progress toward producing 86Sr₂ at ultracold temperatures, including efforts to address isotope shifts for cooling and trapping atoms, as well as photoassociating the molecules. Additionally, I will introduce a next-generation molecular clock apparatus designed to overcome factors currently limiting our precision.

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