PM: RUI: High Precision Spectroscopy for Tests of QED

这个项目的目的与基础原子物理学的目标很好地一致，后者是为了了解原子的复杂相互作用和内部工作。具体地说，这个项目通过测量铍、硼、氮和氧的性质来测试我们最好的理论模型，即粒子物理的标准模型。我们对原子系统的认识是由实验和理论结果共同推动的。最轻的元素(氢、氦、锂和铍的一些性质)已经在实验和理论上得到了很好的研究。威廉姆斯实验室将研究的拟议原子更加复杂，也更难建模。随着计算变得越来越复杂，提供实验结果来验证这些计算并确定哪些理论模型正确地描述了这些多电子系统变得至关重要。该项目将大大改进目前的实验测量，以验证粒子物理标准模型中被称为量子电动力学的部分的预测，并提供有关原子的核和电子结构的信息。该项目还将为原子和核物理界提供足够高精度的实验数据，以帮助理论家进行计算，这将在未来几年内推动理论的进步。除了这种科学影响，威廉姆斯实验室还将创建以课程为基础的本科生研究体验(CURE)，其目标是1)每年为9名本科生提供强大的研究体验，2)培训下一代科学家执行高精度光谱分析。技术描述：威廉姆斯实验室将测量轻原子中各种状态的绝对跃迁能量以及超精细耦合常数(如果适用)，以向追求开发高精度多电子模型的理论家提供宝贵的反馈。结合理论预测，结果将用于检验量子电动力学的准确性。计划中的光谱测量将对中性铍-9中的一些三重态、硼的稳定同位素的两个跃迁以及氮和氧的各种态进行。此外，威廉姆斯实验室将开发一种新的、灵敏的光谱技术来测量与基态弱耦合的状态的绝对能量。这项新技术是著名的NICE-OHMS方法的扩展，可能会发展成令人兴奋的未来实验，包括第一个中性氧磁光陷阱(MOT)和第一个蒸汽池氪MOT。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The aim of this project aligns well with the goal of fundamental atomic physics, which is to understand the complex interactions and inner workings of the atom. Specifically, this project tests our best theoretical model, known as the Standard Model of Particle Physics, by measuring properties of beryllium, boron, nitrogen, and oxygen. Our knowledge of atomic systems is driven by both experimental and theoretical results. The lightest elements (hydrogen, helium, lithium, and a few properties of beryllium) have been well studied both experimentally and theoretically. The proposed atoms the Williams lab is going to study are more complex and difficult to model. As the computations grow more complex, it becomes essential to provide experimental results to both check those calculations and determine which theoretical models correctly describe these multi-electron systems. This project will greatly improve upon current experimental measurements to validate the predictions of the part of the Standard Model of Particle Physics known as quantum electrodynamics, as well as provide information about the nuclear and electronic structure of the atoms. The project will also provide the atomic and nuclear physics communities with enough high precision experimental data to assist theorists in their calculations, which will then serve to drive the advancement of theory for quite a few years. In addition to this scientific impact, the Williams lab will create a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) whose goals are to 1) provide a robust research experience for nine undergraduate students each year and 2) train the next generation of scientists to perform high precision spectroscopy.Technical description: The Williams lab will measure the absolute transition energies as well as hyperfine coupling constants, when applicable, of a variety of states in the light atoms to provide invaluable feedback to theorists who are in the pursuit of developing high precision multi-electron models. Combined with theoretical predictions, the results will serve to test the accuracy of quantum electrodynamics. Planned spectroscopic measurements will be performed on a number of triplet states in neutral beryllium-9, two transitions in the stable isotopes of boron, and a variety of states in nitrogen and oxygen. In addition, the Williams lab will develop a novel, sensitive spectroscopic technique to measure the absolute energy of states that are weakly coupled to the ground state. This new technique, which is an extension of the well-known NICE-OHMS method, may develop into exciting future experiments including the first magneto-optical trap (MOT) of neutral oxygen and the first vapor cell krypton MOT.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.