Shedding Light on the Proton Radius Puzzle with Ultracold Helium

用超冷氦揭示质子半径之谜

• 批准号: DP240101441
• 负责人: Prof Andrew Truscott
• 金额: $ 31.95万
• 依托单位: The Australian National University
• 依托单位国家: 澳大利亚
• 项目类别: Discovery Projects
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 澳大利亚
• 起止时间: 2024-01-01 至 2026-12-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://dataportal.arc.gov.au/RGS/Web/Grants/DP240101441
• 关键词: Shedding; Light; Proton; Radius; Puzzle

This project aims to shed light on an outstanding discrepancy in physics known as the proton radius puzzle, first seen in hydrogen but now being studied in helium. Capitalising on existing international collaboration between experiment and theory to exploit the advantages of ultracold helium, this project aims to determine the isotopic nuclear charge radius difference with unprecedented precision, using our state-of-the-art quantum electrodynamic theory. This will not only answer fundamental questions about helium atomic structure, but may also reveal new physics beyond the current Standard Model. The validation of atomic structure theory should provide benefits in applications including the realisation of more accurate atomic clocks.

该项目旨在揭示物理学中一个突出的差异，即质子半径之谜，首先在氢中发现，但现在正在氦中研究。利用现有的实验和理论之间的国际合作，利用超冷氦的优势，该项目旨在使用我们最先进的量子电动力学理论，以前所未有的精度确定同位素核电荷半径差。这不仅将回答有关氦原子结构的基本问题，还可能揭示超越当前标准模型的新物理学。 原子结构理论的验证应该在应用中提供好处，包括实现更精确的原子钟。