Measurement of the $7p\,\, ^2\!P_{3/2}$ state branching fractions in $\mathrm{Ra}^+$

TL;DR

This paper precisely measures the branching fractions of the $7p\,\,^2\!P_{3/2}$ state in radium ion using laser cooling, providing valuable data for atomic physics and quantum information applications.

Contribution

It provides the first high-precision experimental measurements of the $7p\,\,^2\!P_{3/2}$ state branching fractions in $^{226}\mathrm{Ra}^+$, along with improved theoretical calculations.

Findings

Branching fraction to ground state: 0.87678(20)

Branching fraction to $6d\,^2\!D_{5/2}$: 0.10759(10)

Branching fraction to $6d\,^2\!D_{3/2}$: 0.01563(21)

Abstract

We report a measurement of the radium ion's $7p\,\, ^2\!P_{3/2}$ state branching fractions and improved theoretical calculations. With a single laser-cooled $^{226}\mathrm{Ra}^+$ ion we measure the $P_{3/2}$ branching fractions to the $7s\,\,^2\!S_{1/2}$ ground state 0.87678(20), the $6d\,\,^2\!D_{5/2}$ state 0.10759(10), and the $6d$ ${}^{2}D_{3/2}$ state 0.01563(21).