Researchers at NIST and the Max Planck Institute are working on a new experiment to measure the Rydberg constant with unprecedented accuracy. The Rydberg constant determines the color of light emitted when an electron jumps between energy levels in an atom. Current measurements are limited by uncertainties in the size of the atomic nucleus and virtual photon effects.
The new approach involves creating hydrogen-like Rydberg atoms with a single electron in a high-lying orbit far from the nucleus. This minimizes the impact of nuclear size and virtual photon effects, allowing theoretical uncertainties to be reduced to tens of parts per quintillion.
NIST researchers plan to implement this approach using their Electron Beam Ion Trap Facility. They will strip an atom of all its electrons, cool it, and inject a single electron into a high-flying orbit. A frequency comb will then measure the light absorbed by this Rydberg atom, potentially yielding an improved value for the Rydberg constant.
Such a precise measurement could reveal anomalies in quantum electrodynamics, the modern theory of the atom. This would provide a deeper understanding of the fundamental laws of physics governing atomic behavior, potentially leading to breakthroughs in materials science, chemistry, and quantum computing.
Keywords: Rydberg constant, Electron Beam Ion Trap Facility, Quantum electrodynamics, Frequency comb, Ultraprecise frequency measurement
