Open AccessHigh precision hyperfine measurements in Bismuth challenge bound-state strong-field QED
Author(s) -
Johannes Ullmann,
Zoran Andelkovic,
C. Brandau,
A. Dax,
W. Geithner,
Christopher Geppert,
C. Gorges,
M. Hammen,
V. Hannen,
S. Kaufmann,
Kristian König,
Yu. A. Litvinov,
Matthias Lochmann,
B. Maaß,
Johann Meisner,
T. Murböck,
R. Sánchez,
Matthias Schmidt,
S. Schmidt,
M. Steck,
Thomas Stöhlker,
Richard C. Thompson,
C. Trageser,
Jonas Vollbrecht,
C. Weinheimer,
W. Nörtershäuser
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
nature communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.559
H-Index - 365
ISSN - 2041-1723
DOI - 10.1038/ncomms15484
Subject(s) - hyperfine structure , bismuth , bound state , field (mathematics) , state (computer science) , physics , atomic physics , materials science , computer science , quantum mechanics , algorithm , mathematics , pure mathematics , metallurgy
Electrons bound in highly charged heavy ions such as hydrogen-like bismuth 209 Bi 82+ experience electromagnetic fields that are a million times stronger than in light atoms. Measuring the wavelength of light emitted and absorbed by these ions is therefore a sensitive testing ground for quantum electrodynamical (QED) effects and especially the electron–nucleus interaction under such extreme conditions. However, insufficient knowledge of the nuclear structure has prevented a rigorous test of strong-field QED. Here we present a measurement of the so-called specific difference between the hyperfine splittings in hydrogen-like and lithium-like bismuth 209 Bi 82+,80+ with a precision that is improved by more than an order of magnitude. Even though this quantity is believed to be largely insensitive to nuclear structure and therefore the most decisive test of QED in the strong magnetic field regime, we find a 7- σ discrepancy compared with the theoretical prediction.