Measurement of the Isotope and Stark Shift on the 3s²3p² ³P₁ → 3s²3p 4s ³P₀ Transition of Silicon

Laser cooling and trapping of silicon could open new possibilities in the quantum computing world. However, challenges arise due to the high evaporation temperature of Si and the deep-UV wavelengths of many of the laser cooling transitions. We will present precise measurements of the isotope shift of the 3s² 3p^{2 3}P₁ → 3s² 3p 4s ³P₀ Si transition at 252.4 nm for the stable ^28-30Si isotopes. A collimated Si atomic beam produced by an effusive oven source interacts perpendicularly with a beam from an amplified and frequency-quadrupled laser operating at a fundamental wavelength of 1010 nm. Fluorescence photons are collected and counted while the 252.4 nm laser is precisely scanned in frequency using adjustable frequency sidebands locked to an ultrastable laser cavity. We will also present our progress measuring the DC Stark shift of this transition, to determine the feasibility of a Stark-effect frequency compensation method for laser cooling of Si.