Abstract
We report new values for the atomic masses of the alkali 133Cs, 87Rb, 85Rb, and 23Na with uncertainties ≤ 0.2 ppb. These results, obtained using Penning trap single ion mass spectrometry, are typically two orders of magnitude more accurate than previously measured values. Combined with values of h/m atom from atom interferometry measurements and accurate wavelength measurements for different atoms, these values will lead to new ppb-level determinations of the molar Planck constant N A h and the fine structure constant α. This route to α is based on simple physics. It can potentially achieve the several ppb level of accuracy needed to test the QED determination of α extracted from measurements of the electron g factor. We also demonstrate an electronic cooling technique that cools our detector and ion below the 4 K ambient temperature. This technique improves by about a factor of three our ability to measure the ion's axial motion.
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Rainville, S., Bradley, M.P., Porto, J.V. et al. Precise Measurements of the Masses of Cs, Rb and Na – A New Route to the Fine Structure Constant. Hyperfine Interactions 132, 177–187 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011922529114
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011922529114