Precision measurement of ℏ/m Cs based on photon recoil using laser-cooled atoms and atomic interferometry
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1432-0649
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| Keywords: |
32.00 ; 35.00 ; 42.50
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| Source: |
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
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| Topics: |
Physics
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| Notes: |
Abstract The recoil of an atom due to the absorption of up to 64 photons is measured, using laser-cooled cesium atoms which are made to interfere in an atomic fountain. Measurement of the photon recoil allows a determination of ℏ/m Cs, and hence the fine-structure constant. The measurement is described and a detailed theoretical and experimental study of potential systematic errors is presented. A relative precision in the photon recoil measurement of 0.1 ppm is obtained in two hours of data collection. The measurement is currently 0.85 ppm below the accepted value of ℏ/m Cs. We cannot now formally ascribe a systematic error, but suspect that the bulk of the discrepancy is due to imperfections of the interferometer beams used to induce the Raman transitions.
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| Type of Medium: |
Electronic Resource
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| URL: |