A new determination of the fine-structure constant
This report, submitted by the Electricity Division of NIST, is to summarize the work performed under contract DE-AIO1-86ER40282 and represents a new experimental determination of the fine-structure constant {alpha}, to the accuracy of 3.7 parts in 10{sup 8} (0.037 parts per million or ppm). The success of this experiment enabled the unequivocal testing of quantum electrodynamic theory (QED) to the same level of accuracy through the comparison of experimental and theoretical values of QED dependent quantities. These are the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron, a{sub e}, the hyperfine splittings in muonium and positronium, and various Lamb shifts in hydrogen and helium. In view of the importance of quantum electrodynamics to our understanding of atomic, molecular, and particle physics, such critical comparisons have immense potential for confirming QED.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NML), Gaithersburg, MD (USA). Electricity Div.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/ER
- DOE Contract Number:
- AI01-86ER40282
- OSTI ID:
- 7102182
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/40282-T1; ON: DE90008800
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
657002* -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Classical & Quantum Mechanics
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCURACY
CALIBRATION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CURRENT DENSITY
ELECTRODYNAMICS
FIELD THEORIES
IMPURITIES
JOSEPHSON EFFECT
LASERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEASURING METHODS
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
REAL TIME SYSTEMS
SAMPLING
STABILITY
STRUCTURAL MODELS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
VARIATIONS
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCURACY
CALIBRATION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CURRENT DENSITY
ELECTRODYNAMICS
FIELD THEORIES
IMPURITIES
JOSEPHSON EFFECT
LASERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEASURING METHODS
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
REAL TIME SYSTEMS
SAMPLING
STABILITY
STRUCTURAL MODELS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
VARIATIONS