Precision Measurements on Ions

原子的质量是它最基本的性质之一。原子质量的精确测量在物理科学的许多领域都有应用，包括核物理学、高能（粒子）物理、天体物理学、物理化学和自然基本常数的测定。目前的世界？最精确的原子质量测量是用佛罗里达州立大学的低温“潘宁阱质谱仪”进行的。利用独特的系统特征，例如，在超高真空中通过电场和磁场的组合捕获和操纵一个或两个单独的离子，并使用超导电子学检测它们的微小运动，原子质量测量将以接近万亿分之一的分数精度进行。当这些测量结果与其他研究结果结合在一起时，将影响基本的科学问题，例如：中微子的质量是多少，已知最轻的基本粒子，量子电动力学，目前物理学中最精确的测试理论，能否准确预测电子的磁矩？精密彭宁陷阱技术在分析质谱分析中也有应用，这对国家安全的化学分析和痕量化学检测至关重要。该奖项还为博士后研究人员、研究生和本科生在精密质谱方面提供了独特的研究经验，包括广泛的精密测量和实验技术。这为他们在工业、国家实验室和学术界从事科技职业做好了准备，从而有利于国家经济和解决紧迫的国家问题。

The mass of an atom is one of its most basic properties. Precise measurements of atomic masses have applications to many fields of physical science including nuclear physics, high-energy (particle) physics, astrophysics, physical chemistry, and the determination of the fundamental constants of nature. Currently the world?s most precise measurements of atomic mass are made with the Florida State University cryogenic "Penning Trap Mass Spectrometer". Making use of unique system features, e.g. the trapping and manipulation of one or two individual ions by a combination of electric and magnetic fields in an ultra-high vacuum, and the detection of their tiny motions using superconducting electronics, atomic mass measurements will be made with a fractional precision approaching 10 parts-per-trillion. These measurements, when combined with the results of other research, will impact fundamental scientific questions such as: what is the mass of the neutrino, the lightest known fundamental particle, and does Quantum Electrodynamics, currently the most accurately tested theory in physics, accurately predict the magnetic moment of the electron?Precision Penning trap techniques also have applications to analytical mass spectrometry, which is crucial to chemical analysis and trace chemical detection for National Security. The award also provides a unique research experience for post-doctoral researchers, graduate and undergraduate students in precision mass spectrometry, encompassing a broad range of precision measurement and experimental techniques. This prepares them for scientific and technological careers in industry, the national laboratories and academe, consequently benefiting the nation's economy and the solution of pressing national problems.