Direct comparison of multi-ion optical clocks based on $^{40}$Ca$^+$ and $^{88}$Sr$^+$

Abstract

We report the first direct frequency comparison between two multi-ion optical clocks based on the S$_{1/2}$ to D$_{5/2}$ transition in \Ca and \Sr ions. Using linear chains of up to nine \Ca ions and six \Sr ions, we demonstrate improved stability as a function of the number of ions that are contributing to the laser frequency stabilization servo. The measured joint fractional frequency stability of the two clocks reaches $1.37(12)\times 10^{-15}$ at one second, placing an upper bound on the same stability of one of the clocks at $9.6(8)\times 10^{-16}$ in one second. We measured the frequency ratio of the two clocks to be $R_{\text{Sr/Ca}}=1.082076536381896986(18)$, where the systematic uncertainty is primarily limited by the room temperature blackbody radiation. Our direct measurement represents an order of magnitude improvement compared to existing indirect frequency ratio measurements. Furthermore, by combining our results with recent absolute frequency measurements of the \Sr transition, referenced to a primary frequency standard, we refined the absolute frequency of the \Ca transition to $\nu_{\text{Ca}^+}=411042129776400.21(4)$ Hz, reducing its uncertainty by a factor of three. This study presents the first direct comparison between two multi-ion optical clocks, highlighting their significant potential for future applications in fundamental physics tests, geodesy, and precision metrology.