New Measurement of the Electron Magnetic Moment and the Fine Structure Constant
Abstract
A measurement using a one-electron quantum cyclotron gives the electron magnetic moment in Bohr magnetons, g/2=1.00115965218073(28) [0.28 ppt], with an uncertainty 2.7 and 15 times smaller than for previous measurements in 2006 and 1987. The electron is used as a magnetometer to allow line shape statistics to accumulate, and its spontaneous emission rate determines the correction for its interaction with a cylindrical trap cavity. The new measurement and QED theory determine the fine structure constant, with α-1=137.035999084(51) [0.37 ppb], and an uncertainty 20 times smaller than for any independent determination of α.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- March 2008
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.120801
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0801.1134
- Bibcode:
- 2008PhRvL.100l0801H
- Keywords:
-
- 06.20.Jr;
- 12.20.Fv;
- 13.40.Em;
- 14.60.Cd;
- Determination of fundamental constants;
- Experimental tests;
- Electric and magnetic moments;
- Electrons;
- Physics - Atomic Physics;
- Physics - General Physics
- E-Print:
- 4 pages, 4 figures