We report a precise measurement of the isotope shifts in the $4^2$S$_{ 1/2} \rightarrow 3^2$D$_{ 5/2}$ electric quadrupole transition at 729~nm in the $^{ 40 - 42,44,48}$Ca$^+$. The measurement has been made via high-resolution laser spectroscopy of co-trapped ions, finding measured shifts of 2,771,872,467.6(7.6), 5,340,887,394.6(7.8), and 9,990,382,525.0(4.9) Hz between $^{ 42,44,48}$Ca$^+$and $^{ 40}$Ca$^+$, respectively. By exciting the two isotopes simultaneously using frequency sidebands derived from a single laser systematic uncertainties resulting from laser frequency drifts are eliminated. This permits far greater precision than similar previously published measurements in other alkaline-earth systems. The resulting measurement precision provides a benchmark for tests of theoretical isotope shift calculations, and also offers a step towards probing New Physics via isotope shift spectroscopy.
Categories: physics.atom-ph