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arXiv · 1909.10516

Combining experiments and relativistic theory for establishing accurate radiative quantities in atoms: the lifetime of the $^2$P$_{3/2}$ state in $^{40}$Ca$^+$

Ziv Meir·Mudit Sinhal·Marianna S. Safronova·Stefan Willitsch
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Abstract

We report a precise determination of the lifetime of the (4p)$^2$P$_{3/2}$ state of $^{40}$Ca$^+$, $τ_{\textrm{P}_{3/2}}=6.639(42)$ ns, using a combination of measurements of the induced light shift and scattering rate on a single trapped ion. Good agreement with the result of a recent high-level theoretical calculation, $6.69(6)$ ns [Safronova et al., PRA 83, 012503 (2011)], but a 6-$σ$ discrepancy with the most precise previous experimental value, $6.924(19)$ ns [Jin et al., PRL 70, 3213 (1993)] is found. To corroborate the consistency and accuracy of the new measurements, relativistically corrected ratios of reduced-dipole-matrix elements are used to directly compare our result with a recent result for the P$_{1/2}$ state, yielding a good agreement. The application of the present method to precise determinations of radiative quantities of molecular systems is discussed.

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Ziv Meir, Mudit Sinhal, Marianna S. Safronova, Stefan Willitsch. 2019-10-02. Combining experiments and relativistic theory for establishing accurate radiative quantities in atoms: the lifetime of the $^2$P$_{3/2}$ state in $^{40}$Ca$^+$. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.101.012509

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