Experimental and Theoretical Study of Dynamic Polarizabilities in the 5S1/2–5D5/2 Clock Transition in Rubidium-87 and Determination of Electric Dipole Matrix Elements

Abstract

The interaction between light and an atom causes perturbations in the atom’s energy levels, known as the light shift. These light shifts are a key source of inaccuracy in atomic clocks, and can also deteriorate their precision. We present a study of light shifts and associated dynamic polarizabilities for a two-photon atomic clock based on the 5S1/2–5D5/2 transition in rubidium-87 over the range 770–800 nm. We determine experimental and theoretical values for a magic wavelength in this range and the electric dipole (E1) matrix element for the 5P3/2–5D5/2 transition. We find a magic wavelength of 776.179(5) nm (experimental) and 776.21 nm (theoretical) in the vicinity of the 5P3/2–5D5/2 resonance, and the corresponding reduced E1 matrix element 1.80(6)ea0 (experimental) and 1.96(15)ea0 (theoretical). These values resolve a previous discrepancy between theory and experiment.