Holger Müller (UCB & LBNL): Atom Interferometry and measurement of the fine-structure constant as test of the standard model

Thursday 26 Sept 2019, 16:00 → 17:00 US/Pacific

Auditorium (050)

Developments in atom interferometry have enabled a range of precision measurements not possible before. The technique will be introduced along with a brief historical overview and current applications. Our measurement of the fine structure constant will then be used to illustrate details. The fine-structure constant, α, is a dimensionless constant that characterizes the strength of the electromagnetic interaction between charged elementary particles. Related by four fundamental constants, a precise determination of α allows for a test of the Standard Model of particle physics. We used matter-wave interferometry with a cloud of cesium atoms to make the most accurate measurement of α to date. Determining the value of α to an accuracy of better than 1 part per billion provides an independent method for testing the accuracy of quantum electrodynamics and the Standard Model. It may also enable searches of the so-called “dark sector” for explanations of dark matter.

 

HM_Alpha_Instrum_colloq_as_presented.pdf