Isotope shift in the dielectronic recombination of three-electron ^{A}Nd^{57+}

TL;DR

This study measures isotope shifts in dielectronic recombination spectra of Li-like ^{A}Nd^{57+} ions, revealing nuclear size differences with high sensitivity using a novel approach that combines simple atomic structure with QED calculations.

Contribution

It introduces a new method combining simple atomic structure and QED to measure isotope shifts with high sensitivity to nuclear size differences.

Findings

Measured energy shifts of 40.2(3)(6) meV and 42.3(12)(20) meV for 2s-2p transitions.

Deduced a change in mean-square charge radius of -1.36(1)(3) fm^2.

Demonstrated a conceptually new approach for nuclear size measurements.

Abstract

Isotope shifts in dielectronic recombination spectra were studied for Li-like ^{A}Nd^{57+} ions with A=142 and A=150. From the displacement of resonance positions energy shifts \delta E^{142,150}(2s-2p_1/2)= 40.2(3)(6) meV (stat)(sys)) and \delta E^{142,150}(2s-2p_3/2) = 42.3(12)(20) meV of 2s-2p_j transitions were deduced. An evaluation of these values within a full QED treatment yields a change in the mean-square charge radius of ^{142,150}\delta <r^2> = -1.36(1)(3) fm^2. The approach is conceptually new and combines the advantage of a simple atomic structure with high sensitivity to nuclear size.