arXiv subjects

Beatrice Franke

Publications and source records attributed to Beatrice Franke.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

The helion charge radius from laser spectroscopy of muonic helium-3 ions

Hydrogen-like light muonic ions, in which one negative muon replaces all the electrons, are extremely sensitive probes of nuclear structure, because the large muon mass increases tremendously the wave function overlap with the nucleus. Using pulsed laser spectroscopy we have measured three 2S-2P transitions in the muonic helium-3 ion ($μ^3$He$^+$), an ion formed by a negative muon and bare helium-3 nucleus. This allowed us to extract the Lamb shift $E(2P_{1/2}-2S_{1/2})= 1258.598(48)^{\rm exp}(3)^{\rm theo}$ meV, the 2P fine structure splitting $E_{\rm FS}^{\rm exp} = 144.958(114)$ meV, and the 2S-hyperfine splitting (HFS) $E_{\rm HFS}^{\rm exp} = -166.495(104)^{\rm exp}(3)^{\rm theo}$ meV in $μ^3$He$^+$. Comparing these measurements to theory we determine the rms charge radius of the helion ($^3$He nucleus) to be $r_h$ = 1.97007(94) fm. This radius represents a benchmark for few nucleon theories and opens the way for precision tests in $^3$He atoms and $^3$He-ions. This radius is in good agreement with the value from elastic electron scattering, but a factor 15 more accurate. Combining our Lamb shift measurement with our earlier one in $μ^4$He$^+$ we obtain $r_h^2-r_α^2 = 1.0636(6)^{\rm exp}(30)^{\rm theo}$ fm$^2$ to be compared to results from the isotope shift measurements in regular He atoms, which are however affected by long-standing tensions. By comparing $E_{\rm HFS}^{\rm exp}$ with theory we also obtain the two-photon-exchange contribution (including higher orders) which is another important benchmark for ab-initio few-nucleon theories aiming at understanding the magnetic and current structure of light nuclei.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2022

The Precision nEDM Measurement with UltraCold Neutrons at TRIUMF

The TRIUMF Ultra-Cold Advanced Neutron (TUCAN) collaboration aims at a precision neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) measurement with an uncertainty of $10^{-27}\,e\cdot\mathrm{cm}$, which is an order-of-magnitude better than the current nEDM upper limit and enables us to test Supersymmetry. To achieve this precision, we are developing a new high-intensity ultracold neutron (UCN) source using super-thermal UCN production in superfluid helium (He-II) and a nEDM spectrometer. The current development status of them is reported in this article.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

Theory of the Lamb shift and Fine Structure in muonic $\mathrm{^4He}$ ions and the muonic $\mathrm{^3He-^4He}$ Isotope Shift

We provide an up to date summary of the theory contributions to the 2S-2P Lamb shift and the fine structure of the 2P state in the muonic helium ion $(\mathrm{μ^4He})^+$. This summary serves as the basis for the extraction of the alpha particle charge radius from the muonic helium Lamb shift measurements at the Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland. Individual theory contributions needed for a charge radius extraction are compared and compiled into a consistent summary. The influence of the alpha particle charge distribution on the elastic two-photon exchange is studied to take into account possible model-dependencies of the energy levels on the electric form factor of the nucleus. We also discuss the theory uncertainty which enters the extraction of the $\mathrm{^3He-^4He}$ isotope shift from the muonic measurements. The theory uncertainty of the extraction is much smaller than a present discrepancy between previous isotope shift measurements. This work completes our series of $n=2$ theory compilations in light muonic atoms which we have performed already for muonic hydrogen, deuterium, and helium-3 ions.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2017

Theory of the n=2 levels in muonic helium-3 ions

The present knowledge of Lamb shift, fine-, and hyperfine structure of the 2S and 2P states in muonic helium-3 ions is reviewed in anticipation of the results of a first measurement of several $\mathrm{2S\rightarrow2P}$ transition frequencies in the muonic helium-3 ion, $\mathrm{μ^3He^+}$. This ion is the bound state of a single negative muon $μ^-$ and a bare helium-3 nucleus (helion), $\mathrm{^3He^{++}}$. A term-by-term comparison of all available sources, including new, updated, and so far unpublished calculations, reveals reliable values and uncertainties of the QED and nuclear structure-dependent contributions to the Lamb shift and the hyperfine splitting. These values are essential for the determination of the helion rms charge radius and the nuclear structure effects to the hyperfine splitting in $\mathrm{μ^3He^+}$. With this review we continue our series of theory summaries in light muonic atoms; see Antognini et al., Ann. Phys. 331, 127 (2013), Krauth et al., Ann.Phys. 366, 168 (2016), and Diepold et al., ArXiv 1606.05231 (2016).

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2016

Laser Spectroscopy of Muonic Atoms and Ions

Laser spectroscopy of the Lamb shift (2S-2P energy difference) in light muonic atoms or ions, in which one negative muon $μ^-$ is bound to a nucleus, has been performed. The measurements yield significantly improved values of the root-mean-square charge radii of the nuclei, owing to the large muon mass, which results in a vastly increased muon wave function overlap with the nucleus. The values of the proton and deuteron radii are 10 and 3 times more accurate than the respective CODATA values, but 7 standard deviations smaller. Data on muonic helium-3 and -4 ions is being analyzed and will give new insights. In future, the (magnetic) Zemach radii of the proton and the helium-3 nuclei will be determined from laser spectroscopy of the 1S hyperfine splittings, and the Lamb shifts of muonic Li, Be and B can be used to improve the respective charge radii.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2015

Quantum interference effects in laser spectroscopy of muonic hydrogen, deuterium, and helium-3

Quantum interference between energetically close states is theoretically investigated, with the state structure being observed via laser spectroscopy. In this work, we focus on hyperfine states of selected hydrogenic muonic isotopes, and on how quantum interference affects the measured Lamb shift. The process of photon excitation and subsequent photon decay is implemented within the framework of nonrelativistic second-order perturbation theory. Due to its experimental interest, calculations are performed for muonic hydrogen, deuterium, and helium-3. We restrict our analysis to the case of photon scattering by incident linear polarized photons and the polarization of the scattered photons not being observed. We conclude that while quantum interference effects can be safely neglected in muonic hydrogen and helium-3, in the case of muonic deuterium there are resonances with close proximity, where quantum interference effects can induce shifts up to a few percent of the linewidth, assuming a pointlike detector. However, by taking into account the geometry of the setup used by the CREMA collaboration, this effect is reduced to less than 0.2% of the linewidth in all possible cases, which makes it irrelevant at the present level of accuracy.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2015

Theory of the n=2 levels in muonic deuterium

The present knowledge of Lamb shift, fine- and hyperfine structure of the $\mathrm{2S}$ and $\mathrm{2P}$ states in muonic deuterium is reviewed in anticipation of the results of a first measurement of several $\mathrm{2S-2P}$ transition frequencies in muonic deuterium ($μ\mathrm{d}$). A term-by-term comparison of all available sources reveals reliable values and uncertainties of the QED and nuclear structure-dependent contributions to the Lamb shift, which are essential for a determination of the deuteron rms charge radius from $μ\mathrm{d}$. Apparent discrepancies between different sources are resolved, in particular for the difficult two-photon exchange contributions. Problematic single-sourced terms are identified which require independent recalculation.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2015

Improved X-ray detection and particle identification with avalanche photodiodes

Avalanche photodiodes are commonly used as detectors for low energy x-rays. In this work we report on a fitting technique used to account for different detector responses resulting from photo absorption in the various APD layers. The use of this technique results in an improvement of the energy resolution at 8.2 keV by up to a factor of 2, and corrects the timing information by up to 25 ns to account for space dependent electron drift time. In addition, this waveform analysis is used for particle identification, e.g. to distinguish between x-rays and MeV electrons in our experiment.

physics.ins-det↗