Measurement of a helium tune-out frequency: an independent test of quantum electrodynamics

B. M. Henson; J. A. Ross; K. F. Thomas; C. N. Kuhn; D. K. Shin; S. S. Hodgman; Yong Hui Zhang; Li Yan Tang; G. W.F. Drake; A. T. Bondy; A. G. Truscott; K. G.H. Baldwin

doi:10.1126/science.abk2502

Measurement of a helium tune-out frequency: an independent test of quantum electrodynamics

B. M. Henson, J. A. Ross, K. F. Thomas, C. N. Kuhn, D. K. Shin, S. S. Hodgman, Yong Hui Zhang, Li Yan Tang^*, G. W.F. Drake^*, A. T. Bondy, A. G. Truscott, K. G.H. Baldwin^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Graduate Research) Office

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Despite quantum electrodynamics (QED) being one of the most stringently tested theories underpinning modern physics, recent precision atomic spectroscopy measurements have uncovered several small discrepancies between experiment and theory. One particularly powerful experimental observable that tests QED independently of traditional energy level measurements is the “tune-out” frequency, where the dynamic polarizability vanishes and the atom does not interact with applied laser light. In this work, we measure the tune-out frequency for the 2³S₁ state of helium between transitions to the 2³P and 3³P manifolds and compare it with new theoretical QED calculations. The experimentally determined value of 725,736,700(260) megahertz differs from theory [725,736,252(9) megahertz] by 1.7 times the measurement uncertainty and resolves both the QED contributions and retardation corrections.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	199-203
Number of pages	5
Journal	Science
Volume	376
Issue number	6589
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abk2502
Publication status	Published - 8 Apr 2022

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title = "Measurement of a helium tune-out frequency: an independent test of quantum electrodynamics",

abstract = "Despite quantum electrodynamics (QED) being one of the most stringently tested theories underpinning modern physics, recent precision atomic spectroscopy measurements have uncovered several small discrepancies between experiment and theory. One particularly powerful experimental observable that tests QED independently of traditional energy level measurements is the “tune-out” frequency, where the dynamic polarizability vanishes and the atom does not interact with applied laser light. In this work, we measure the tune-out frequency for the 23S1 state of helium between transitions to the 23P and 33P manifolds and compare it with new theoretical QED calculations. The experimentally determined value of 725,736,700(260) megahertz differs from theory [725,736,252(9) megahertz] by 1.7 times the measurement uncertainty and resolves both the QED contributions and retardation corrections.",

author = "Henson, {B. M.} and Ross, {J. A.} and Thomas, {K. F.} and Kuhn, {C. N.} and Shin, {D. K.} and Hodgman, {S. S.} and Zhang, {Yong Hui} and Tang, {Li Yan} and Drake, {G. W.F.} and Bondy, {A. T.} and Truscott, {A. G.} and Baldwin, {K. G.H.}",

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doi = "10.1126/science.abk2502",

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T1 - Measurement of a helium tune-out frequency

T2 - an independent test of quantum electrodynamics

AU - Henson, B. M.

AU - Ross, J. A.

AU - Thomas, K. F.

AU - Kuhn, C. N.

AU - Shin, D. K.

AU - Hodgman, S. S.

AU - Zhang, Yong Hui

AU - Tang, Li Yan

AU - Drake, G. W.F.

AU - Bondy, A. T.

AU - Truscott, A. G.

AU - Baldwin, K. G.H.

PY - 2022/4/8

Y1 - 2022/4/8

N2 - Despite quantum electrodynamics (QED) being one of the most stringently tested theories underpinning modern physics, recent precision atomic spectroscopy measurements have uncovered several small discrepancies between experiment and theory. One particularly powerful experimental observable that tests QED independently of traditional energy level measurements is the “tune-out” frequency, where the dynamic polarizability vanishes and the atom does not interact with applied laser light. In this work, we measure the tune-out frequency for the 23S1 state of helium between transitions to the 23P and 33P manifolds and compare it with new theoretical QED calculations. The experimentally determined value of 725,736,700(260) megahertz differs from theory [725,736,252(9) megahertz] by 1.7 times the measurement uncertainty and resolves both the QED contributions and retardation corrections.

AB - Despite quantum electrodynamics (QED) being one of the most stringently tested theories underpinning modern physics, recent precision atomic spectroscopy measurements have uncovered several small discrepancies between experiment and theory. One particularly powerful experimental observable that tests QED independently of traditional energy level measurements is the “tune-out” frequency, where the dynamic polarizability vanishes and the atom does not interact with applied laser light. In this work, we measure the tune-out frequency for the 23S1 state of helium between transitions to the 23P and 33P manifolds and compare it with new theoretical QED calculations. The experimentally determined value of 725,736,700(260) megahertz differs from theory [725,736,252(9) megahertz] by 1.7 times the measurement uncertainty and resolves both the QED contributions and retardation corrections.

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DO - 10.1126/science.abk2502

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VL - 376

SP - 199

EP - 203

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6589

ER -

Measurement of a helium tune-out frequency: an independent test of quantum electrodynamics

Abstract

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