Development of a trapped Yb+ frequency standard: efficient quenching of population trapping

We report on a study to determine the efficiency of various buffer gases in quenching the population trapping states of laser excited ytterbium ions. The ions were confined in an rf/dc hybrid trap, and their ²S_1/2⇔²P_3/2 transition was excited with 329 nm laser light. Buffer gases used include H₂, N₂, CO₂, Ar, and He at several different pressure regimes. We have identified N₂ to be highly efficient in quenching the population of the trapping states, and thus be the most suitable buffer gas to use with ytterbium for the development of a trapped ion microwave frequency standard