Precision spectroscopy of light muonic atoms provides unique information about the atomic and nuclear structure of these systems and thus represents a way to access fundamental interactions, ...properties and constants. One application comprises the determination of absolute nuclear charge radii with unprecedented accuracy from measurements of the 2S - 2P Lamb shift. Here, we review recent results of nuclear charge radii extracted from muonic hydrogen and helium spectroscopy and present experiment proposals to access light muonic atoms with Z ≥ 3. In addition, our approaches towards a precise measurement of the Zemach radii in muonic hydrogen (μp) and helium (μ3He+) are discussed. These results will provide new tests of bound-state quantum-electrodynamics in hydrogen-like systems and can be used as benchmarks for nuclear structure theories.
We review the status of the proton charge radius puzzle. Emphasis is given to the various experiments initiated to resolve the conflict between the muonic hydrogen results and the results from ...scattering and regular hydrogen spectroscopy.
The CREMA collaboration is pursuing a measurement of the ground-state
hyperfine splitting (HFS) in muonic hydrogen
(
\mu
μ
p)
with 1 ppm accuracy by means of pulsed laser spectroscopy to determine
...the two-photon-exchange contribution with
2\times10^{-4}
2
×
10
−
4
relative accuracy. In the proposed experiment, the
\mu
μ
p
atom undergoes a laser excitation from the singlet hyperfine state to
the triplet hyperfine state, then is quenched back to the singlet
state by an inelastic collision with a H
_2
2
molecule. The resulting increase of kinetic energy after the collisional
deexcitation is used as a signature of a successful laser transition
between hyperfine states. In this paper, we calculate the combined
probability that a
\mu
μ
p
atom initially in the singlet hyperfine state undergoes a laser
excitation to the triplet state followed by a collisional-induced
deexcitation back to the singlet state. This combined probability has
been computed using the optical Bloch equations including the inelastic
and elastic collisions. Omitting the decoherence effects caused by the
laser bandwidth and collisions would overestimate the transition
probability by more than a factor of two in the experimental
conditions. Moreover, we also account for Doppler effects and provide
the matrix element, the saturation fluence, the elastic and inelastic
collision rates for the singlet and triplet states, and the resonance
linewidth. This calculation thus quantifies one of the key unknowns of
the HFS experiment, leading to a precise definition of the requirements
for the laser system and to an optimization of the hydrogen gas target
where
\mu
μ
p
is formed and the laser spectroscopy will occur.
The double response of a large area avalanche photodiode, a planar RMD model S1315, to 6-keV x-rays was investigated as a function of APD biasing voltage and for different operating temperatures. Our ...data are consistent with the interpretation that the dissimilar APD response is due to x-ray interactions in the different APD-layer structures; interactions in the APD entrance layer just below the front electrode, where the electric field intensity is very low lead to pulses with higher risetime and lower amplitudes, when compared with interactions in the deeper layers where the electric field is more intense. Average pulse risetime values of 14 and 7 ns have been measured in our setup, the slower pulses presenting average amplitudes which are around 20% lower than those of the faster pulses. While the fast risetime does not depend significantly on APD biasing voltage and on temperature, the slow risetime presents a slight decrease with increasing bias voltage and decreasing temperature, a behaviour that is consistent with the increase of the electric field as a result of the increase in the APD biasing voltage. The fraction of the slow pulses reduces from 60% to 40% as the APD biasing increases from about 1.58 to 1.64 kV, indicating a reduction in the thickness, from 25 to 15 μm, in the weak-electric-field entrance layer.
It is now recognized that the International System of Units (SI units) will be redefined in terms of fundamental constants, even if the date when this will occur is still under debate. Actually, the ...best estimate of fundamental constant values is given by a least-squares adjustment, carried out under the auspices of the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) Task Group on Fundamental Constants. This adjustment provides a significant measure of the correctness and overall consistency of the basic theories and experimental methods of physics using the values of the constants obtained from widely differing experiments. The physical theories that underlie this adjustment are assumed to be valid, such as quantum electrodynamics (QED). Testing QED, one of the most precise theories is the aim of many accurate experiments. The calculations and the corresponding experiments can be carried out either on a boundless system, such as the electron magnetic moment anomaly, or on a bound system, such as atomic hydrogen. The value of fundamental constants can be deduced from the comparison of theory and experiment. For example, using QED calculations, the value of the fine structure constant given by the CODATA is mainly inferred from the measurement of the electron magnetic moment anomaly carried out by Gabrielse's group. (Hanneke et al. 2008 Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 120801) The value of the Rydberg constant is known from two-photon spectroscopy of hydrogen combined with accurate theoretical quantities. The Rydberg constant, determined by the comparison of theory and experiment using atomic hydrogen, is known with a relative uncertainty of 6.6×10−12. It is one of the most accurate fundamental constants to date. A careful analysis shows that knowledge of the electrical size of the proton is nowadays a limitation in this comparison. The aim of muonic hydrogen spectroscopy was to obtain an accurate value of the proton charge radius. However, the value deduced from this experiment contradicts other less accurate determinations. This problem is known as the proton radius puzzle. This new determination of the proton radius may affect the value of the Rydberg constant . This constant is related to many fundamental constants; in particular, links the two possible ways proposed for the redefinition of the kilogram, the Avogadro constant NA and the Planck constant h. However, the current relative uncertainty on the experimental determinations of NA or h is three orders of magnitude larger than the 'possible' shift of the Rydberg constant, which may be shown by the new value of the size of the proton radius determined from muonic hydrogen. The proton radius puzzle will not interfere in the redefinition of the kilogram. After a short introduction to the properties of the proton, we will describe the muonic hydrogen experiment. There is intense theoretical activity as a result of our observation. A brief summary of possible theoretical explanations at the date of writing of the paper will be given. The contribution of the proton radius puzzle to the redefinition of SI-based units will then be examined.
The proton radius puzzle Antognini, A; Amaro, F D; Biraben, F ...
Journal of Physics: Conference Series,
09/2011, Letnik:
312, Številka:
3
Journal Article, Conference Proceeding
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
By means of pulsed laser spectroscopy applied to muonic hydrogen (μ− p) we have measured the 2SF 11/2 – 2PF 23/2 transition frequency to be 49881.88(76) GHz 1. By comparing this measurement with its ...theoretical prediction 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 based on bound-state QED we have determined a proton radius value of rp 0.84184(67) fm. This new value differs by 5.0 standard deviations from the COD ATA value of 0.8768(69) fm 8, and 3 standard deviation from the e-p scattering results of 0.897(18) fm 9. The observed discrepancy may arise from a computational mistake of the energy levels in μp or H, or a fundamental problem in bound-state QED, an unknown effect related to the proton or the muon, or an experimental error.
An experiment measuring the 2S Lamb shift in muonic hydrogen (
μ
-
p
) was performed at the Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland. It required small and compact detectors for 1.9
keV X-rays (2P–1S ...transition) with an energy resolution around 25% at 2
keV, a time resolution better than 100
ns, a large solid angle coverage, and insensitivity to a 5
T magnetic field. We chose Large Area Avalanche Photodiodes (LAAPDs) from Radiation Monitoring Devices as X-ray detectors, and they were used during the last data taking period in 2003. For X-ray spectroscopy applications, these LAAPDs have to be cooled in order to suppress the dark current noise; hence, a series of tests were performed to choose the optimal operation temperature. Specifically, the temperature dependence of gain, energy resolution, dark current, excess noise factor, and detector response linearity was studied. Finally, details of the LAAPDs application in the muonic hydrogen experiment as well as their response to
α
particles are presented.
We report the first laser spectroscopy of muonic deuterium. At the Paul Scherrer Institute, we have measured the frequency of the 2S-2P Lamb shift in muonic deuterium. As in the case of the muonic ...hydrogen, the observed lines are shifted from the theoretical predictions. Thanks to improved new QED and nuclear structure calculations, an accurate determination of the deuteron radius can be extracted from our study. This determination will give a new and important input to the proton size puzzle.
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