Single Electron Studies (Physics)

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Studies are proposed of a single electron, isolated from all matter by suspending it in the electric and magnetic fields of a Penning trap. The central idea is to observe, study and use the relativistic mass increase at energies below one electron volt. This mass increase will be used to probe the quantum structure of the cyclotron motion of the isolated electrons. A fractional resolution of 10E-9 is required in measurements of the cyclotron frequency. This will permit more precise measurements of the magnetic moment of the electron and positron, which would provide the most stringest test of quantum electrodynamics and test CPT invariance. The interaction of the cyclotron oscillator with the surrounding microwave cavity changes the radiation rate but may also shift the cyclotron frequency; these effects will be studied in a Penning trap with three cylindrical electrodes and two flat end plates. Ways to exploit the relativistic nonlinearity will be investigated.