Systematic Shifts for Ytterbium-ion Optical Frequency Standards

The projected systematic uncertainties of single trapped Ytterbium-ion optical frequency standards are estimated for the quadrupole and octupole transitions which are at wavelengths 435.5 nm and 467 nm, respectively. Finite temperature of the ion and its interaction with the external fields introduce drift in the measured frequency compared to its absolute value. Frequency shifts due to electric quadrupole moment, induced polarization and excess micromotion of the ion depend on electric fields, which are estimated in this article. Geometry of the trap electrodes also result in unwanted electric fields which have been considered in our calculation. Magnetic field induced shift and Stark shifts due to electro-magnetic radiation at a surrounding temperature are also estimated. At CSIR-NPL, we are developing a frequency standard based on the octupole transition for which the systematic uncertainties are an order of magnitude smaller than that using the quadrupole transition, as described here.