Atomic Physics with Lasers

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. The objective of this General Physics proposal is to study the electronic structure of atoms. Innovative spectroscopic techniques will be developed to measure atomic properties such as the fine/hyperfine structure intervals of Li+ to unprecedented accuracy; by one and two orders of magnitude, respectively. This will provide the world's most stringent test of our understanding of a three body system. Quantum Electrodynamic (QED) theory will be checked and nuclear sizes at a resolution of 10^-18 meter will be investigated. This "Microscope" has 100 times higher resolution than is achieved scattering electrons off nuclei. QED effects such as the Lamb shift are proportional to lowest order to the fourth power of the nuclear charge. Hence, these effects are 2 orders of magnitude larger in lithium than in hydrogen. In addition, recent theoretical advances enable the computation of state wavefunctions of few electron atoms to unprecedented accuracy.