$^{176}$Lu$^+$ clock comparison at the $10^{-18}$ level via correlation spectroscopy

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate agreement between two $^{176}$Lu$^+$ frequency references using correlation spectroscopy. From a comparison at different magnetic fields, we obtain a quadratic Zeeman coefficient of $-4.89264(88)\,\mathrm{Hz/mT^2}$, which gives a corresponding fractional frequency uncertainty contribution of just $2.5\times 10^{-20}$ for comparisons at typical operating fields of 0.1\,mT. A subsequent comparison with both systems at 0.1\,mT, demonstrates a fractional frequency difference of $(-2.0\pm(3.7)_\mathrm{stat}\pm(0.9)_\mathrm{sys})\times10^{-18}$, where `stat' and `sys' indicate statistical and systematic uncertainty, respectively.