Very-high Q microwave resonances in trapped /sup 171/Yb/sup +/ ions: application as a microwave frequency standard

The 12.6 GHz microwave resonance in /sup 171/Yb/sup +/ ions confined in a linear Paul trap is interrogated using a cryogenic sapphire resonator-based microwave source. Line Q factors of up to 1.1/spl times/10/sup 13/ have been observed. We report on the performance of the ion trap-sapphire resonator system as a prototype 12.6 GHz frequency standard.<
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