Towards a Mg lattice clock: Observation of the $^1S_{0}-$$^3P_{0}$ transition and determination of the magic wavelength

TL;DR

This paper reports the observation of a specific transition in magnesium atoms trapped in a lattice, determines the magic wavelength and related parameters, and discusses implications for magnesium-based optical clocks.

Contribution

It presents the first experimental observation of the $^1S_{0}-$$^3P_{0}$ transition in magnesium and provides precise measurements of the magic wavelength and other key parameters, along with a new theoretical model.

Findings

Magic wavelength determined at 468.463(207) nm

Transition frequency measured at 655 058 646 691(101) kHz

Developed a high-precision relativistic structure model for magnesium

Abstract

We optically excite the electronic state $3s3p~^3P_{0}$ in $^{24}$Mg atoms, laser-cooled and trapped in a magic-wavelength lattice. An applied magnetic field enhances the coupling of the light to the otherwise strictly forbidden transition. We determine the magic wavelength, the quadratic magnetic Zeeman shift and the transition frequency to be 468.463(207)$\,$nm, -206.6(2.0)$\,$MHz/T$^2$ and 655 058 646 691(101)$\,$kHz, respectively. These are compared with theoretical predictions and results from complementary experiments. We also developed a high-precision relativistic structure model for magnesium, give an improved theoretical value for the blackbody radiation shift and discuss a clock based on bosonic magnesium.