arXiv subjects

Zoltán Harman

Publications and source records attributed to Zoltán Harman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Stringent Constraints on New Pseudoscalar & Vector Bosons from Precision Hyperfine Splitting Measurements

Axion-like particles and similar new pseudoscalar as well as vector bosons coupled to nucleons and electrons are predicted to lead to spin-dependent forces in atoms and ions. We argue that hyperfine structure measurements in hydrogen- and lithium-like charge states are a sensitive probe to this effect. Employing specific differences of these splittings reduces uncertainties due to nuclear effects in hyperfine structure calculations and measurements. Using this, we show that existing measurements on Be provide competitive limits in the region $m_ϕ\gtrsim 100 {\rm keV}$, confirming, or improving by up to a factor of 2, existing constraints for pseudoscalar couplings, depending on the nuclear model. We also find that future measurements on Cs have a further factor of $2-2.5$ improved discovery potential for pseudoscalars and an order of magnitude for new vector bosons when compared with the corresponding current constraints.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Fermion selective tests of new physics with the bound electron g-factor

The use of high-precision measurements of the $g$ factor of single-electron ions is considered as a detailed probe for physics beyond the Standard Model. The contribution of the exchange of a hypothetical force-carrying scalar boson to the $g$ factor is calculated for the ground state of H-like ions and used to derive bounds on the parameters of that force. Similarly to the isotope shift, we employ the nuclide shift, i.e. the difference for elements with different proton and/or neutron numbers, in order to increase the experimental sensitivity to the new physics contribution. In particular we find, combining available measurements with current precision with different ions, that the coupling constant for the interaction between an electron and a proton can be constrained up to three orders of magnitude better than with the best current atomic data and theory.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2025

Dielectronic recombination studies of ions relevant to kilonovae and non-LTE plasma

This study presents calculations of rate coefficients, resonance strengths, and cross sections for the dielectronic recombination (DR) of $\text{Y}^{+}$, $\text{Sr}^{+}$, $\text{Te}^{2+}$, and $\text{Ce}^{2+}$-low-charge ions relevant to kilonovae and non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) plasmas. Using relativistic atomic structure methods, we computed DR rate coefficients under conditions typical of these environments. These DR rate coefficients and cross sections were calculated using the Flexible Atomic Code (FAC). The DR resonance features were identified by comparing theoretical resonance energies, estimated as the difference between NIST excitation energies and Dirac binding energies, with dominant autoionizing states confirmed through analysis of autoionization rates. Our results highlight the critical role of low-lying DR resonances in shaping rate coefficients at kilonova temperatures ($\sim 10^4$ K) and regulating charge-state distributions. Pronounced near-threshold DR resonances significantly influence the evolving ionization states and opacity of neutron star merger ejecta. Comparisons with previous studies emphasize the necessity of including high-$n$ Rydberg states for accurate DR rate coefficients, especially for complex heavy ions with dense energy levels. Discrepancies with existing datasets underscore the need for refined computational techniques to minimize uncertainties. These results provide essential input for interpreting spectroscopic observations of neutron star mergers, including James Webb Space Telescope data. We also put forward suitable candidates for experimental studies, recognizing the challenges involved in such measurements. The data presented here have the potential to refine models of heavy-element nucleosynthesis, enhance plasma simulation accuracy, and improve non-LTE plasma modeling in astrophysical and laboratory settings.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Testing inter-electronic interaction in lithium-like tin

Magnetic moments of bound-electron systems are a sensitive tool for testing fundamental interactions. $g$ factors of lithium-like ions have been rigorously studied in recent years, enabling insights into the relativistic inter-electronic effects. Here, we present the $g$-factor measurement of lithium-like tin, accurate to 0.5 parts per billion, as well as \textit{ab initio} theoretical calculations that include an advanced treatment of the inter-electronic interaction. We further improve the prediction by using the experimental result for the hydrogen-like tin $g$ factor, inferring from it the unknown higher-order QED effects. The observed agreement independently confirms the revised theory at a previously inaccessible high nuclear charge $Z$ of 50, where QED effects are significantly larger.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2025

Periodic table for highly charged ions

Mendeleev's periodic table successfully groups atomic elements according to their chemical and spectroscopic properties. However, it becomes less sufficient in describing the electronic properties of highly charged ions (HCIs) in which many of the outermost electrons are ionized. In this work, we put forward a periodic table particularly suitable for HCIs. It is constructed purely based on the successive electron occupation of relativistic orbitals. While providing a much-simplified description of the level structure of highly charged isoelectronic ions -- essential for laboratory and astrophysical plasma spectroscopies, such a periodic table predicts a large family of highly forbidden transitions suitable for the development of next-generation optical atomic clocks. Furthermore, we also identify universal linear $Z$ scaling laws ($Z$ is the nuclear charge) in the so-called ``Coulomb splittings'' between angular momentum multiplets along isoelectronic sequences, complementing the physics of electron-electron interactions in multielectron atomic systems.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2025

Probing new bosons and nuclear structure with ytterbium isotope shifts

In this Letter, we present mass-ratio measurements on highly charged Yb$^{42+}$ ions with a precision of $4\times 10^{-12}$ and isotope-shift measurements on Yb$^{+}$ on the $^{2}$S$_{1/2}$ $\to$ $^{2}$D$_{5/2}$ and $^{2}$S$_{1/2}$ $\to$ $^{2}$F$_{7/2}$ transitions with a precision of $4\times 10^{-9}$ for the isotopes $^{168,170,172,174,176}$Yb. We present a new method that allows us to extract higher-order changes in the nuclear charge distribution along the Yb isotope chain, benchmarking ab-initio nuclear structure calculations. Additionally, we perform a King plot analysis to set bounds on a fifth force in the keV$/c^2$ to MeV$/c^2$ range coupling to electrons and neutrons.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2024

Improved bound-electron g-factor theory through complete two-loop QED calculations

The two-loop self-energy correction to the bound-electron $g$-factor in hydrogenlike ions is investigated, taking into account the electron-nucleus interaction exactly. This all-order calculation is required to improve the total theoretical uncertainty of the $g$-factor, which is limited by the fact that two-loop self-energy corrections have only been calculated so far in the form of an expansion in $Zα$. Here, $Z$ is the nuclear charge number and $α$ is the fine-structure constant. In this work, we report calculations of the last missing parts of the total two-loop self-energy correction, exactly in $Zα$. We apply our theory to the recently measured $g$-factor of the hydrogenlike $^{118}$Sn$^{49+}$ ion [J. Morgner et al., Nature 622, 53 (2023)] and, with a factor of 8, improve the accuracy of its state-of-the-art theoretical value by almost one order of magnitude, enabling more detailed tests of quantum electrodynamics and new physics in strong fields.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2024

Precision spectroscopy on $^9$Be overcomes limitations from nuclear structure

Many powerful tests of the Standard Model of particle physics and searches for new physics with precision atomic spectroscopy are plagued by our lack of knowledge of nuclear properties. Ideally, such properties may be derived from precise measurements of the most sensitive and theoretically best-understood observables, often found in hydrogen-like systems. While these measurements are abundant for the electric properties of nuclei, they are scarce for the magnetic properties, and precise experimental results are limited to the lightest of nuclei. Here, we focus on $^9$Be which offers the unique possibility to utilize comparisons between different charge states available for high-precision spectroscopy in Penning traps to test theoretical calculations typically obscured by nuclear structure. In particular, we perform the first high-precision spectroscopy of the $1s$ hyperfine and Zeeman structure in hydrogen-like $^9$Be$^{3+}$. We determine its effective Zemach radius with an uncertainty of $500$ ppm, and its bare nuclear magnetic moment with an uncertainty of $0.6$ parts-per-billion (ppb) - uncertainties unmatched beyond hydrogen. Moreover, we compare to measurements conducted on the three-electron charge state $^9$Be$^{+}$, which, for the first time, enables testing the calculation of multi-electron diamagnetic shielding effects of the nuclear magnetic moment at the ppb level. In addition, we test quantum electrodynamics (QED) methods used for the calculation of the hyperfine splitting. Our results serve as a crucial benchmark essential for transferring high-precision results of nuclear magnetic properties across different electronic configurations.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2024

Nuclear magnetic shielding in heliumlike ions

Ab initio QED calculations of the nuclear magnetic shielding constant in helium-like ions are presented. We combine the nonrelativistic QED approach based on an expansion in powers of the fine-structure constant $α$ and the so-called ``all-order'' QED approach which includes all orders in the parameter $Zα$ but uses a perturbation expansion in the parameter $1/Z$ (where $Z$ is the nuclear charge number). The combination of the two complementary methods makes our treatment applicable both to low-$Z$ and high-$Z$ ions. Our calculations confirm the presence of a rare antiscreening effect for the relativistic shielding correction and demonstrate the importance of the inclusion of the negative-energy part of the Dirac spectrum.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2024

Penning-trap measurement of the $Q$-value of the electron capture in $^{163}\mathrm{Ho}$ for the determination of the electron neutrino mass

The investigation of the absolute scale of the effective neutrino mass remains challenging due to the exclusively weak interaction of neutrinos with all known particles in the standard model of particle physics. Currently, the most precise and least model-dependent upper limit on the electron antineutrino mass is set by the KATRIN experiment from the analysis of the tritium \b{eta}-decay. Another promising approach is the electron capture in $^{163}\mathrm{Ho}$, which is under investigation using microcalorimetry within the ECHo and HOLMES collab orations. An independently measured Q-value of this process is vital for the assessment of systematic uncertainties in the neutrino mass determination. Here, we report a direct, independent determination of this $Q$-value by measuring the free-space cyclotron frequency ratio of highly charged ions of $^{163}\mathrm{Ho}$ and $^{163}\mathrm{Dy}$ in the Penning trap experiment \textsc{Pentatrap}. Combining this ratio with atomic physics calculations of the electronic binding energies yields a $Q$-value of $2863.2(0.6)\,\mathrm{eV}/c^{2}$ - a more than 50-fold improvement over the state-of-the-art. This will enable the determination of the electron neutrino mass on a sub-eV level from the analysis of the electron capture in $^{163}\mathrm{Ho}$.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2023

Atomic mass determination of uranium-238

The atomic mass of uranium-238 has been determined to be $238.050\,787\,618(15)\,\text{u}$, improving the literature uncertainty by two orders of magnitude. It is obtained from a measurement of the mass ratio of $^{238}$U$^{47+}$ and $^{132}$Xe$^{26+}$ ions with an uncertainty of $3.5\times 10^{-12}$. The measurement was carried out with the Penning-trap mass spectrometer \textsc{Pentatrap} and was accompanied by a calculation of the binding energies $E_{\text{U}}$ and $E_{\text{Xe}}$ of the 47 and 26 missing electrons of the two highly charged ions, respectively. These binding energies were determined using an \textit{ab initio} multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock (MCDHF) method to be $E_{\text{U}} = 39\,927(10)\,\text{eV}$ and $E_{\text{Xe}} = 8\,971.2(21)\,\text{eV}$. The new mass value will serve as a reference for high-precision mass measurements in the heavy mass region of the nuclear chart up to transuranium nuclides.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2023

Observation of a low-lying metastable electronic state in highly charged lead by Penning-trap mass spectrometry

Highly charged ions (HCIs) offer many opportunities for next-generation clock research due to the vast landscape of available electronic transitions in different charge states. The development of XUV frequency combs has enabled the search for clock transitions based on shorter wavelengths in HCIs. However, without initial knowledge of the energy of the clock states, these narrow transitions are difficult to be probed by lasers. In this Letter, we provide experimental observation and theoretical calculation of a long-lived electronic state in Nb-like Pb$^{41+}$ which could be used as a clock state. With the mass spectrometer Pentatrap, the excitation energy of this metastable state is directly determined as a mass difference at an energy of 31.2(8) eV, corresponding to one of the most precise relative mass determinations to date with a fractional uncertainty of $4\times10^{-12}$. This experimental result agrees within 1 $σ$ with two partially different \textit{ab initio} multi-configuration Dirac-Hartree-Fock calculations of 31.68(13) eV and 31.76(35) eV, respectively. With a calculated lifetime of 26.5(5.3) days, the transition from this metastable state to the ground state bears a quality factor of $1.1\times10^{23}$ and allows for the construction of a HCI clock with a fractional frequency instability of $<10^{-19}/\sqrtτ$.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2023

Self-energy correction to energy levels of highly charged ions in a path integral formalism

Self-energy corrections to the energy levels of bound electrons are calculated in the framework of path integrals. We arrive at the full fermion propagator, using methods of functional integrals, in the form of Schwinger-Dyson equation (SDE). From the full fermion SDE, the self-energy corrected propagator is identified and the energy shift is obtained from the poles of the spectral function. The numerical calculations are performed using complex contour integrals and the B-spline representation of basis functions. We identify ions with Lamb shifts observable via modern mass spectrometric methods.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2023

Path integral formalism for the free Dirac propagator in spherical coordinates

The relativistic Green's function of a free spin-1/2 fermion is derived using the Feynman path integral formalism in spherical coordinates. The Green's function is reduced to an exactly solvable path integral by an appropriate coordinate transformation. The result is given in terms of spherical Bessel functions and spherical spinors, and agrees with previous solutions of the problem.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2023

Vacuum polarization correction to atomic energy levels in the path integral formalism

Vacuum polarization corrections to the energy levels of bound electrons are calculated using a perturbative path integral formalism. We apply quantum electrodynamics in a framework which treats the strong binding nuclear field to all orders. The effective potential, derived from the Dyson-Schwinger equation for the photon propagator, is then considered pertubatively. Expressions for the vacuum polarization shift of binding energies is obtained from the poles of the spectral function up to second order. Numerical results are provided to select candidates for novel tests of strong-field quantum electrodynamics by means of precision mass spectrometry.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2023

Ultrastable optical, XUV and soft-x-ray clock transitions in open-shell highly charged ions

Highly charged ions (HCIs) are insensitive to external perturbations and are attractive for the development of ultrastable clocks. However, only a few HCI candidates are known to provide optical clock transitions. In this Letter, we show that, as a result of strong relativistic effects, there are more than 100 suitable optical HCI clock candidates in more than 70 elements. Their transitions are embedded in the fine-structure splitting of the $nd^4$, $nd^5$ and $nd^6$ ground-state configurations with $n=3,4,5$ being the principal quantum numbers. The corresponding high multipolarity transitions in these ions have lifetimes and quality factors many orders of magnitude longer and larger, respectively, than those in state-of-the-art clocks. Their polarizabilities are also orders of magnitude smaller, rendering them more stable against external electromagnetic fields. Furthermore, within the same electronic configurations, the clock transitions in heavy ions scale up to the XUV and soft-x-ray region, thus enable the development of clocks based on shorter wavelengths. The existence of multiple clock transitions in different charge states of a single element, as well as in a whole isoelectronic sequence, would significantly enrich the detection of fine-structure constant variations, the search for new physics and the test of nuclear theories via high-precision spectroscopy.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2023

Hadronic vacuum polarization correction to the bound-electron $g$ factor

The hadronic vacuum polarization correction to the $g$ factor of a bound electron is investigated theoretically. An effective hadronic Uehling potential obtained from measured cross sections of $e^- e^+$ annihilation into hadrons is employed to calculate $g$ factor corrections for low-lying hydrogenic levels. Analytical Dirac-Coulomb wave functions, as well as bound wave functions accounting for the finite nuclear radius are used. Closed formulas for the $g$ factor shift in case of a point-like nucleus are derived. In heavy ions, such effects are found to be much larger than for the free-electron $g$ factor.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

New Measurement Resolves Key Astrophysical Fe XVII Oscillator Strength Problem

One of the most enduring and intensively studied problems of X-ray astronomy is the disagreement of state-of-the art theory and observations for the intensity ratio of two Fe XVII transitions of crucial value for plasma diagnostics, dubbed 3C and 3D. We unravel this conundrum at the PETRA III synchrotron facility by increasing the resolving power two and a half times and the signal-to-noise ratio thousand-fold compared to our previous work. The Lorentzian wings had hitherto been indistinguishable from the background and were thus not modeled, resulting in a biased line-strength estimation. The present experimental oscillator-strength ratio $R_\mathrm{exp}=f_{\mathrm{3C}}/f_{\mathrm{3D}}=3.51(2)_{\mathrm{stat}}(7)_{\mathrm{sys}}$ agrees with our state-of-the-art calculation of $R_\mathrm{th}=3.55(2)$, as well as with some previous theoretical predictions. To further rule out any uncertainties associated with the measured ratio, we also determined the individual natural linewidths and oscillator strengths of 3C and 3D transitions, which also agree well with the theory. This finally resolves the decades-old mystery of Fe XVII oscillator strengths.

physics.atom-ph↗