title: Highly charged ions for atomic clocks, quantum information, and search for α variation.
abstract: We propose 10 highly charged ions as candidates for the development of next generation atomic clocks, quantum information, and search for α variation. They have long-lived metastable states with transition wavelengths to the ground state between 170-3000 nm, relatively simple electronic structure, stable isotopes, and high sensitivity to α variation (e.g., Sm(14+), Pr(10+), Sm(13+), Nd(10+)). We predict their properties crucial for the experimental exploration and highlight particularly attractive systems for these applications.
authors.affiliation: University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA and Joint Quantum Institute, NIST and the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20899, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Safronova
authors.affiliation: The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Dzuba
authors.affiliation: The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Flambaum
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA and University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA.
authors.forename: U I
authors.initials: UI
authors.lastname: Safronova
authors.affiliation: University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA and Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Gatchina 188300, Russia.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Porsev
authors.affiliation: Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Gatchina 188300, Russia and St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University "LETI," St. Petersburg 197376, Russia.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kozlov