In a groundbreaking research study, an international team of scientists has successfully conducted ultra-precise X-ray spectroscopic measurements of helium-like uranium. Led by researchers from Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Helmholtz Institute Jena in Germany, the team achieved remarkable results by disentangling and separately testing quantum electrodynamic effects for extremely strong Coulomb fields of the heaviest nuclei. The findings of this study, which have been published in the prestigious journal Nature, shed light on the fundamental question of what holds our world together at its most fundamental level.
Dr. Robert Lötzsch, an experimental physicist at the Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics at the University of Jena, highlights the significance of this project by emphasizing that the measurements were conducted on the heaviest stable atoms. While precise measurements of electron transitions have been achieved to 13 decimal places for a hydrogen atom (atomic number one), the team was able to obtain measurements up to five decimal places for uranium (atomic number 92). The focus of the research was on the transitions between different orbits, providing a deeper understanding of the behavior of electrons in these complex systems.
The experiments were conducted at the GSI/FAIR experimental storage ring in Darmstadt, Germany. This particle accelerator complex, utilized by several European countries, housed the necessary infrastructure for carrying out the measurements. Study groups from Poland, France, Portugal, and Germany collaborated under the leadership of Martino Trassinelli and Robert Lötzsch to conduct these precise measurements.
The experimental setup involved vaporizing uranium and accelerating it to around 40% of the speed of light. The accelerated ions were passed through a special film, causing them to lose electrons in the process. These accelerated electrons were then guided into a storage ring, where they followed a circular path. Spectrometers positioned along the ring detected electron transitions, enabling their measurement. The critical component of the spectrometer was a specially bent crystal made from germanium, which Lötzsch explains is as thin as a sheet of paper and held in a unique glass mold. The construction of this spectrometer required extensive expertise and was developed in Jena over several decades.
The published results by the research group are the culmination of an experiment conducted in 2021, which took place over three weeks during the Easter period. The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges and complicated the experimental conditions. However, despite the obstacles faced, Lötzsch believes that the results obtained are well worth the tremendous effort expended by the team.
This breakthrough study in ultra-precise X-ray spectroscopy of helium-like uranium opens up new avenues of research and has far-reaching implications. The findings contribute to our understanding of the behavior of electrons in heavy nuclei, enhancing our knowledge of the fundamental forces that govern the universe.
Moreover, the techniques and methodologies developed by the research group pave the way for further advancements in X-ray spectroscopy and the study of exotic atoms. The ability to conduct such precise measurements of electron transitions in heavy stable atoms enables scientists to delve deeper into the mysteries of quantum mechanics and explore the frontiers of atomic physics.
The successful ultra-precise X-ray spectroscopic measurements of helium-like uranium by an international research team mark a significant milestone in the field of atomic physics. The ability to disentangle and test quantum electrodynamic effects for extremely strong Coulomb fields of the heaviest nuclei provides valuable insights into the fundamental structure of matter. This achievement paves the way for future discoveries and advancements in the field of X-ray spectroscopy, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.
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