Toward a Rydberg constant measurement on circular atoms

Author

Hare, J. ; Nussenzweig, A. ; Gabbanini, C. ; Weidemuller, M. ; Goy, P. ; Gross, M. ; Haroche, S.

Author_Institution

Dept. de Phys. de l´´ENS, Paris VI Univ., France

Volume

42

Issue

2

fYear

1993

fDate

4/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

331

Lastpage

334

Abstract

A high-resolution spectroscopy experiment on the microwave transitions connecting circular states of lithium atoms was performed. A measurement of the Rydberg constant, directly in frequency units, with an uncertainty of less than 10/sup -10/ is reported. This experiment involves a continuous excitation of circular Rydberg atoms and requires typically a 1 ms interaction time with a 300-500 GHz microwave field. To obtain such an interaction time, laser deceleration of a thermal atomic beam and an extended microwave cavity is used.<>

Keywords

atomic beams; atomic excited states; constants; lithium; microwave measurement; radiation pressure (atoms); 1 ms; 300 to 500 GHz; Li; Rydberg constant measurement; circular atoms; circular states; extended microwave cavity; frequency units; high-resolution spectroscopy; laser deceleration; microwave transitions; thermal atomic beam; Atom lasers; Atomic beams; Atomic measurements; Extraterrestrial measurements; Frequency measurement; Hydrogen; Lithium; Masers; Polarization; Spectroscopy;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Instrumentation and Measurement, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9456

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/19.278576

Filename

278576