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Measuring the α-particle charge radius with muonic helium-4 ions
Julian J Krauth1,2,3, Karsten Schuhmann4,5, Marwan Abdou Ahmed6
1Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Garching, Germany. j.krauth@vu.nl.
Nature
|January 28, 2021
Summary
Precise spectroscopy of muonic helium-4 ions determined the alpha particle's charge radius. This measurement offers a new benchmark for nuclear physics theories and constrains beyond-standard-model physics.
Area of Science:
- Atomic Physics
- Nuclear Physics
- Quantum Mechanics
Background:
- Hydrogen-like atomic systems' energy levels are precisely calculable.
- Nuclear structure effects are magnified in muonic ions.
- Muonic ion spectroscopy probes nuclear structure with high precision.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure 2S-2P transitions in muonic helium-4.
- To precisely determine the alpha particle's root-mean-square charge radius.
Main Methods:
- High-precision spectroscopy of muonic helium-4 ions.
- Utilizing magnified nuclear structure effects in muonic systems.
Main Results:
- Determined the alpha particle charge radius to be 1.67824(83) femtometres.
- Achieved a precision 4.8 times greater than electron scattering.
- Results align with electron scattering data.
Conclusions:
- Established muonic atom/ion spectroscopy as a precise tool for nuclear studies.
- Provided a benchmark for few-nucleon theories, lattice QCD, and electron scattering.
- Constrained beyond-standard-model theories related to the proton radius puzzle.
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