Progress towards measuring the $2S_{1/2}$ to $2P_{1/2}$ interval in hydrogen

ORAL

Abstract

There is a large discrepancy between the CODATA value for the proton charge radius, and its determinations from muonic hydrogen measurements. This discrepancy is referred to as the \emph{proton radius puzzle}. Improved measurements on atomic hydrogen can elucidate the origins of this discrepancy. We have constructed an experiment to measure the Lamb shift ($n=2, S_{1/2} \to P_{1/2}$) in a fast beam of atomic hydrogen. Using a novel separated-oscillatory-fields method and high signal-to-noise ratio detection, we can measure the center of this transition with a statistical uncertainty approaching $10^{-5}$ of its natural linewidth. We report on our studies of systematic effects, and on our progress towards a new measurement of the proton charge radius.

*We acknowledge funding from NSERC, CFI, CRC, ORF, and NIST.

Authors

  • A.C. Vutha

    • York University
  • N. Bezginov

    • York University
  • I. Ferchichi

    • York University
  • E.A. Hessels

    • York University