143 research outputs found
Fundamental Physical Constants: Looking from Different Angles
We consider fundamental physical constants which are among a few of the most
important pieces of information we have learned about Nature after its
intensive centuries-long studies. We discuss their multifunctional role in
modern physics including problems related to the art of measurement, natural
and practical units, origin of the constants, their possible calculability and
variability etc
A constraint on antigravity of antimatter from precision spectroscopy of simple atoms
Consideration of antigravity for antiparticles is an attractive target for
various experimental projects. There are a number of theoretical arguments
against it but it is not quite clear what kind of experimental data and
theoretical suggestions are involved. In this paper we present straightforward
arguments against a possibility of antigravity based on a few simple
theoretical suggestions and some experimental data. The data are: astrophysical
data on rotation of the Solar System in respect to the center of our galaxy and
precision spectroscopy data on hydrogen and positronium. The theoretical
suggestions for the case of absence of the gravitational field are: equality of
electron and positron mass and equality of proton and positron charge. We also
assume that QED is correct at the level of accuracy where it is clearly
confirmed experimentally
Precision Optical Measurements and Fundamental Physical Constants
A brief overview is given on precision determinations of values of the
fundamental physical constants and the search for their variation with time by
means of precision spectroscopy in the optical domain
One- and two-photon resonant spectroscopy of hydrogen and anti-hydrogen atoms in external electric fields
The resonant spectra of hydrogen and anti-hydrogen atoms in the presence of
an external electric field are compared theoretically. It is shown that
nonresonant corrections to the transition frequency contain terms linear in the
electric field. The existence of these terms does not violate space and time
parity and leads to a difference in the resonant spectroscopic measurements for
hydrogen and anti-hydrogen atoms in an external electric field. The one-photon
1s-2p and the two-photon 1s-2s resonances are investigated
Asymmetry of the natural line profile for the hydrogen atom
The asymmetry of the natural line profile for transitions in hydrogen-like
atoms is evaluated within a QED framework. For the Lyman-alpha
absorption transition in neutral hydrogen this asymmetry results in an
additional energy shift of 2.929856 Hz. For the transition
it amounts to -1.512674 Hz. As a new feature this correction turns out to be
process dependent. The quoted numbers refer to the Compton-scattering process.Comment: RevTex, 7 Latex pages, 1 figur
Double-Logarithmic Two-Loop Self-Energy Corrections to the Lamb Shift
Self-energy corrections involving logarithms of the parameter Zalpha can
often be derived within a simplified approach, avoiding calculational
difficulties typical of the problematic non-logarithmic corrections (as
customary in bound-state quantum electrodynamics, we denote by Z the nuclear
charge number, and by alpha the fine-structure constant). For some logarithmic
corrections, it is sufficient to consider internal properties of the electron
characterized by form factors. We provide a detailed derivation of related
self-energy ``potentials'' that give rise to the logarithmic corrections; these
potentials are local in coordinate space. We focus on the double-logarithmic
two-loop coefficient B_62 for P states and states with higher angular momenta
in hydrogenlike systems. We complement the discussion by a systematic
derivation of B_62 based on nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics (NRQED). In
particular, we find that an additional double logarithm generated by the
loop-after-loop diagram cancels when the entire gauge-invariant set of two-loop
self-energy diagrams is considered. This double logarithm is not contained in
the effective-potential approach.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figure; references added and typographical errors
corrected; to appear in Phys. Rev.
The First Cold Antihydrogen
Antihydrogen, the atomic bound state of an antiproton and a positron, was
produced at low energy for the first time by the ATHENA experiment, marking an
important first step for precision studies of atomic antimatter. This paper
describes the first production and some subsequent developments.Comment: Invitated Talk at COOL03, International Workshop on Beam Cooling and
Related Topics, to be published in NIM
Ultra-precise measurement of optical frequency ratios
We developed a novel technique for frequency measurement and synthesis, based
on the operation of a femtosecond comb generator as transfer oscillator. The
technique can be used to measure frequency ratios of any optical signals
throughout the visible and near-infrared part of the spectrum. Relative
uncertainties of for averaging times of 100 s are possible. Using a
Nd:YAG laser in combination with a nonlinear crystal we measured the frequency
ratio of the second harmonic at 532 nm to the fundamental at
1064 nm, .Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Can spacetime curvature induced corrections to Lamb shift be observable?
The Lamb shift results from the coupling of an atom to vacuum fluctuations of
quantum fields, so corrections are expected to arise when the spacetime is
curved since the vacuum fluctuations are modified by the presence of spacetime
curvature. Here, we calculate the curvature-induced correction to the Lamb
shift outside a spherically symmetric object and demonstrate that this
correction can be remarkably significant outside a compact massive
astrophysical body. For instance, for a neutron star or a stellar mass black
hole, the correction is 25% at a radial distance of ,
16% at and as large as 1.6% even at , where is
the mass of the object, the Newtonian constant, and the speed of light.
In principle, we can look at the spectra from a distant compact super-massive
body to find such corrections. Therefore, our results suggest a possible way of
detecting fundamental quantum effects in astronomical observations.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, slight title change, clarifications and more
discussions added, version to be published in JHE
Theory of muonic hydrogen - muonic deuterium isotope shift
We calculate the corrections of orders alpha^3, alpha^4 and alpha^5 to the
Lamb shift of the 1S and 2S energy levels of muonic hydrogen (mu p) and muonic
deuterium (mu d). The nuclear structure effects are taken into account in terms
of the proton r_p and deuteron r_d charge radii for the one-photon interaction
and by means of the proton and deuteron electromagnetic form factors in the
case of one-loop amplitudes. The obtained numerical value of the isotope shift
(mu d) - (mu p) for the splitting (1S-2S) 101003.3495 meV can be considered as
a reliable estimation for corresponding experiment with the accuracy 10^{-6}.
The fine structure interval E(1S)-8E(2S) in muonic hydrogen and muonic
deuterium are calculated.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figure
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