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High-precision isotope-shift measurement of 2 sup 3 S -2 sup 3 P transition in helium

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters; (USA)
; ;  [1]
  1. Lyman Laboratory of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 (US)
The isotope shift for the 2{sup 3}{ital S}-2{sup 3}{ital P} transition between {sup 3}He and {sup 4}He has been measured with a laser-microwave spectroscopy technique to a precision of 1 ppm, or 30 kHz. Our result is 100 times more precise than previous measurements and is by far the most precise isotope-shift measurement ever made for a multielectron system. It provides, for the first time, not only a check for the specific mass shift, but also for the calculations of the nuclear volume shift, the relativistic corrections involving the coupling between electrons, and the QED contributions.
OSTI ID:
5836665
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters; (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (USA) Vol. 66:5; ISSN PRLTA; ISSN 0031-9007
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English