Storage-ring measurement of the hyperfine-induced 2s 2p 3P0 -> 2s2 1S0 transition rate in beryllium-like sulfur

TL;DR

This study measures the hyperfine-induced transition rate in beryllium-like sulfur using a storage ring, confirming theoretical predictions with high precision and ruling out magnetic quenching effects.

Contribution

First experimental measurement of the hyperfine-induced transition rate in Be-like sulfur that agrees with recent theoretical calculations.

Findings

Measured transition rate: 0.096(4)/s

Experimental results agree with theory within 4%

Magnetic field effects on quenching are negligible

Abstract

The hyperfine induced 2s 2p 3P0 -> 2s2 1S0 transition rate in Be-like sulfur was measured by monitoring the decay of isotopically pure beams of 32-S12+ and 33-S12+ ions in a heavy-ion storage ring. Within the 4% experimental uncertainty the experimental value of 0.096(4)/s agrees with the most recent theoretical results of Cheng et al. [Phys. Rev. A 77, 052504 (2008)] and Andersson et al. [Phys. Rev. A 79, 032501 (2009)]. Repeated experiments with different magnetic fields in the storage-ring bending magnets demonstrate that artificial quenching of the 2s 2p 3P0 state by these magnetic fields is negligible.