Update of Muonium 1S-2S transition frequency

Abstract

We present an updated value of the Muonium 1S-2S transition frequency, highlighting contributions from different QED corrections as well as the large uncertainty in the Dirac contribution, stemming from the uncertainty of the electron to muon mass ratio. Improving the measurement of this spectral line would allow to extract a more accurate determination of fundamental constants, such as the electron to muon mass ratio or, combined with the Muonium hyperfine splitting, an independent value of the Rydberg constant. Furthermore, we report on the current status of the Mu-MASS experiment, which aims at measuring the Muonium 1S-2S transition frequency at a 10 kHz uncertainty level.

Graphic abstract

CODATA Recommended Values of the Fundamental Physical Constants: 2018

We report the 2018 self-consistent values of constants and conversion factors of physics and chemistry recommended by the Committee on Data of the International Science Council. The recommended values can also be found at physics.nist.gov/constants. The values are based on a least-squares adjustment that takes into account all theoretical and experimental data available through 31 December 2018. A discussion of the major improvements as well as inconsistencies within the data is given. The former include a decrease in the uncertainty of the dimensionless fine-structure constant and a nearly two orders of magnitude improvement of particle masses expressed in units of kg due to the transition to the revised International System of Units (SI) with an exact value for the Planck constant. Further, because the elementary charge, Boltzmann constant, and Avogadro constant also have exact values in the revised SI, many other constants are either exact or have significantly reduced uncertainties. Inconsistencies remain for the gravitational constant and the muon magnetic-moment anomaly. The proton charge radius puzzle has been partially resolved by improved measurements of hydrogen energy levels.

CODATA recommended values of the fundamental physical constants: 2018

We report the 2018 self-consistent values of constants and conversion factors of physics and chemistry recommended by the Committee on Data of the International Science Council (CODATA). The recommended values can also be found at physics.nist.gov/constants. The values are based on a least-squares adjustment that takes into account all theoretical and experimental data available through 31 December 2018. A discussion of the major improvements as well as inconsistencies within the data is given. The former include a decrease in the uncertainty of the dimensionless fine-structure constant and a nearly two orders of magnitude improvement of particle masses expressed in units of kg due to the transition to the revised International System of Units (SI) with an exact value for the Planck constant. Further, because the elementary charge, Boltzmann constant, and Avogadro constant also have exact values in the revised SI, many other constants are either exact or have significantly reduced uncertainties. Inconsistencies remain for the gravitational constant and the muon magnetic-moment anomaly. The proton charge radius puzzle has been partially resolved by improved measurements of hydrogen energy levels.

Intense beam of metastable Muonium

Precision spectroscopy of the Muonium Lamb shift and fine structure requires a robust source of 2S Muonium. To date, the beam-foil technique is the only demonstrated method for creating such a beam in vacuum. Previous experiments using this technique were statistics limited, and new measurements would benefit tremendously from the efficient 2S production at a low energy muon ( < 20  keV) facility. Such a source of abundant low energyμ + has only become available in recent years, e.g. at the Low-Energy Muon beamline at the Paul Scherrer Institute. Using this source, we report on the successful creation of an intense, directed beam of metastable Muonium. We find that even though the theoretical Muonium fraction is maximal in the low energy range of 2-5 keV, scattering by the foil and transport characteristics of the beamline favor slightly higherμ + energies of 7-10 keV. We estimate that an event detection rate of a few events per second for a future Lamb shift measurement is feasible, enabling an increase in precision by two orders of magnitude over previous determinations.

Overview of the Phenomenology of Lorentz and CPT Violation in Atomic Systems

This is an overview of recent publications on the prospects of searching for nonminimal Lorentz-violating effects in atomic spectroscopy experiments. The article discusses the differences in the signals for Lorentz violation in the presence of minimal and nonminimal operators and what systems are more sensitive to certain types of Lorentz-violating operators.