Strategies for reducing the light shift in atomic clocks

Abstract

Recent progress in optical lattice clocks requires unprecedented precision in controlling systematic uncertainties at the ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}18}$ level. Tuning of nonlinear light shifts is shown to reduce lattice-induced clock shift for a wide range of lattice intensity. Based on theoretical multipolar, nonlinear, anharmonic, and higher-order light shifts, we numerically demonstrate possible strategies for Sr, Yb, and Hg clocks to achieve lattice-induced systematic uncertainty below $1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}18}$.