Experiments on the 2 /sup 3/P state of helium. III. Measurement of the 2 /sup 3/P/sub 0/-2 /sup 3/P/sub 1/ fine-structure interval
The 2 /sup 3/P/sub 0/-2 /sup 3/P/sub 1/ fine-structure interval ..nu../sub 01/ has been measured using the optical-microwave atomic beam magnetic resonance technique. The result, a major improvement upon previous measurements, is ..nu../sub 01/ = 29 616.864 +- 0.036 MHz (1.2 ppm). This compares well with the latest theoretical value ..nu../sub 01/ = 29 616.914 +- 0.043 MHz (1.4 ppm), and provides an important test of the theory of fine structure of the two-electron atom. Alternatively, our experiment can be regarded as an independent measurement of the fine-structure constant with the result ..cap alpha../sup -1/ = 137.036 08 +- 0.000 13 (0.94 ppm), which is consistent with the more accurate currently accepted value ..cap alpha../sup -1/ = 137.035 963 +- 0.000 015 (0.11 ppm).
- Research Organization:
- Gibbs Laboratory, Physics Department, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
- OSTI ID:
- 6333945
- Journal Information:
- Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Vol. 24:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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