Precision measurement of weak transitions from excited states in helium by counting ultracold atoms

J. A. Ross; K. F. Thomas; B. M. Henson; S. S. Hodgman; A. Truscott; K. G. H. Baldwin

doi:10.1117/12.2557696

30 December 2019 Precision measurement of weak transitions from excited states in helium by counting ultracold atoms

J. A. Ross, K. F. Thomas, B. M. Henson, S. S. Hodgman, A. Truscott, K. G. H. Baldwin

Proceedings Volume 11200, AOS Australian Conference on Optical Fibre Technology (ACOFT) and Australian Conference on Optics, Lasers, and Spectroscopy (ACOLS) 2019; 112002H (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2557696
Event: ANZCOP, 2019, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

The advancing precision of modern atomic spectroscopy is beginning to afford optical tests of fundamental physics in helium through, for instance, nuclear charge radii determinations. Helium therefore provides a testbed as appealing as Hydrogen for spectroscopic tests of QED. Among outstanding discrepancies between predicted and observed Helium transition lines are the 7.5σ difference in the n = 3 singlet-triplet splitting and the 93σ difference between Martin’s measurements of the 2³P₂ → 5³S₁ and 2³P₂ → 5³D transitions values, and recent predictions by Drake [3]. We contribute to both of these by measuring five transitions from the 23P2 state, improving on Martin’s measurements with an order of magnitude greater precision, and making the first observation of the spin-forbidden 2³P₂ → 5¹D₂ transition in Helium. Our measurements constrain the 5³D and 5¹D ionization energies of 4He[4] to 150 parts per billion, and the 5³S to 28 parts per billion.

Citation Download Citation

J. A. Ross, K. F. Thomas, B. M. Henson, S. S. Hodgman, A. Truscott, and K. G. H. Baldwin "Precision measurement of weak transitions from excited states in helium by counting ultracold atoms", Proc. SPIE 11200, AOS Australian Conference on Optical Fibre Technology (ACOFT) and Australian Conference on Optics, Lasers, and Spectroscopy (ACOLS) 2019, 112002H (30 December 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2557696

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
2 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Chemical species

Helium

Precision measurement

Spectroscopy

Laser beam diagnostics

Hydrogen

Ionization

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years