Laser-spectroscopy measurement of the fine-structure splitting23P1–23P2ofHe4

G.-P. Feng, X. Zheng, Y. R. Sun, S.-M. Hu
2015 Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics  
Laser spectroscopy has been performed on a beam of neutral 4 He atoms. By using transverse laser cooling and focusing, we are able to prepare a bright beam of atoms in the metastable state 2 3 S 1 deflected from the original effusive atomic beam. The initial state preparation is completed with optical pumping on the 2 3 P 1 2 3 S 1 transition at the wavelength of 1083 nm, followed by laser spectroscopy on the 2 3 P 1,2 2 3 S 1 transitions. The 2 3 P 1 -2 3 P 2 fine structure splitting is
more » ... ned to be 2 291 177.69 ± 0.36 kHz. The quantum interference effect is included in data extraction. This is the most precise laser spectroscopy measurement of the interval. Our result is in agreement with both the latest QED-based calculation and the most precise measurement conducted with microwave spectroscopy.
doi:10.1103/physreva.91.030502 fatcat:qxm6vgodpfha7im32djutkjxwy