Hamburg 2009 – scientific programme
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A: Fachverband Atomphysik
A 3: Precision Spectroscopy of Atoms and Ions I
A 3.4: Talk
Monday, March 2, 2009, 15:15–15:30, VMP 6 HS-B
Fundamental constants and tests of theory in Rydberg states of hydrogen-like ions — Ulrich D. Jentschura1,2, Peter J. Mohr3, Joseph N. Tan3, and •Benedikt J. Wundt1 — 1Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg — 2Departement of Physics, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409-0640, USA — 3National Institue of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8420, USA
Higher-order QED binding corrections constitute an old but still very efficient and successful tool to determine the energy levels in atomic systems to high precision. We will describe here the self-energy contribution to the Lamb shift for highly excited Rydberg states. With the results of a recent calculation of a key QED contribution, the uncertainty in the theory of the energy levels can be greatly reduced. These new results allow for a comparison of precision frequency measurements and quantum electrodynamics prediction for Rydberg states that can lead to an improved value for the Rydberg constant. Experiments at NIST are underway.