Strongly Enhanced Effects of Lorentz-Symmetry Violation in Yb$^+$ and Highly Charged Ions

TL;DR

This paper identifies ytterbium ions and highly charged ions as highly sensitive systems for testing Lorentz symmetry violations, promising significant improvements in experimental bounds over current limits.

Contribution

It introduces Yb$^+$ and highly charged ions as highly sensitive platforms for Lorentz-symmetry tests, surpassing previous experimental sensitivities.

Findings

Yb$^+$ ions can improve sensitivity to Lorentz violation by five orders of magnitude.

Highly charged ions also offer comparable high sensitivity.

Potential to reach sensitivity levels of 10$^{-23}$ in Lorentz-violating physics.

Abstract

A Lorentz-symmetry test with Ca$^+$ ions demonstrated the potential of using quantum information inspired technology for tests of fundamental physics. A systematic study of atomic-system sensitivities to Lorentz violation identified the ytterbium ion as an ideal system with high sensitivity as well as excellent experimental controllability. A test of Lorentz-violating physics in the electron-photon sector with Yb$^+$ ions has the potential to reach levels of 10$^{-23}$, five orders of magnitude more sensitive than the current best bounds. Similar sensitivities may be also reached with highly charged ions.