Precision Physics of Simple Atomic Systems

PREFACE

Because of their apparent “simplicity” simple atoms present a great challenge and temptation to experts in various branches of physics from fundamental problems of particle physics to astrophysics, applied physics and metrology. This book is based on the presentations at the International Conference on Precision Physics of Simple Atomic Systems (PSAS 2002) whose primary target was to provide an effective exchange between physicists from different fields.

From the early days of modern physics, studies of simple atoms involved basic ideas which have essentially contributed to the creation of the present day physical picture based on the Schr¨odinger and Dirac theories, quantum electrodynamics (QED) with the renormalization approach etc. Today, the precision physics of simple atoms involves the most sophisticated experimental and theoretical methods and plays an important role in the progress of laser, atomic, nuclear and particle physics and metrology, delivering the most accurate available data.

This book covers a broad range of problems related to simple atoms and precision measurements: spectroscopy of hydrogen, helium, muonic and exotic atoms, highly charged ions, nuclear structure and its effects on atomic energy levels, highly accurate determination of values of fundamental physical constants and the search for their possible variation with time, QED tests and precision mass spectroscopy.

This is the second book on the subject within a relatively short time, following Hydrogen Atom: Precision Physics of Simple Atomic Systems published by Springer in 2001 (LNP Vol. 570). However, the collection of reviews presented here has no essential overlap with the previous volume.

Simple atoms play an important role in science teaching, offering a good demonstration system to apply quantum mechanics. We include in the book two lectures on the theory of Coulomb atomic systems. These two tutorial papers on hydrogen-like atoms present a collection of applications to actual problems of advanced quantum theory of the hydrogen atom and other hydrogen-like systems.

This book presents the state-of-the-art and recent progress in studies of simple atoms and related questions. We also tried to cover topics missing in the former book and we hope we succeeded in that. The present book is prepared following the review presentations at PSAS 2002 which took place in St. Petersburg on June, 30–July, 4, 2002. More detail about the meeting can be found at http://psas2002.vniim.ru. Several selected progress reports are also included.

Christiaan Schiepers

St.Petersburg and Garching Savely Karshenboim, April, 2003

CONTENTS

1.      Recent Progress with Precision Physics of Simple Atoms

Part I: The Hydrogen Atom

2.      Coulomb Green Function and Its Applications in Atomic Theory

Part II: Muonic and Exotic Atoms and Nuclear Effects

3.      Atomic Cascade and Precision Physics with Light Muonic and Hadronic Atoms

4.      The Structure of Light Nuclei and Its Effect on Precise Atomic Measurements

5.      Deeply Bound Pionic States as an Indicator of Chiral Symmetry Restoration

Part III: Hydrogen-Like Ions

6.      Virial Relations for the Dirac Equation and Their Applications to Calculations of Hydrogen-Like Atoms

7.      Lamb Shift Experiments on High-Z One-Electron Systems

Part IV: Testing Quantum Electrodynamics

8.      Simple Atoms, Quantum Electrodynamics, and Fundamental Constants

9.      Resent Results and Current Status of the Muon (g–2) Experiment at BNL

Part V: Precision Measurements and Fundamental Constants

10.   Single Ion Mass Spectrometry at 100 ppt and Beyond

11.   Current Status of the Problem of Cosmological Variability of Fundamental Physical Constants

Appendix: Proceedings of International Conference on Precision Physics of Simple Atomic Systems (St. Petersburg, 2002)