Atomic Physics Experiments Using Lasers and Fast Atomic Beams

本研究的主要着力点有两个。第一个重点是利用快原子束射频谱高精度测量H和He+的精细结构。这些测量将被用来提供量子电动力学的基本测试，并提供精细结构常数的独立精确值。第二个重点是通过分子束激光光谱学技术研究氢分子的三重态里德堡态。在分子束激光光谱学技术中，电子轰击产生的亚稳态分子通过单个紫外光激光或两个激光通过共振中间态的辐射激发到高位里德堡态。其目的是研究能级结构和通过自电离、预解离和辐射发射而衰变的机制。

There are two major focal points of this research. The first focal point is the use of fast atomic beam radiofrequency spectroscopy to measure with high precision the fine structure of H and He+. These measurements will be used to provide fundamental tests of quantum electrodynamics and to provide an independent precise value for the fine structure constant. A second focal point is the study of the triplet Rydberg states of the hydrogen molecule through a molecular beam-laser spectroscopy technique in which metastable molecules produced by electron bombardment are excited to high lying Rydberg states through radiation from a single uv laser or from two lasers via a resonant intermediate state. The goal is to study the structure of the energy levels and the mechanism for decay by autoionization, predissociation, and emission of radiation.