Paving the way for fundamental physics tests with singly-ionized helium

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel high-precision spectroscopy method for singly-ionized helium to test fundamental physics, aiming to measure atomic transitions that can refine constants and validate quantum electrodynamics.

Contribution

It introduces an extension of Ramsey-comb spectroscopy to the XUV range for single He+ ions, enabling new fundamental physics tests.

Findings

First measurement of the 1S-2S transition in He+

Potential to refine the Rydberg constant and test QED

Establishment of a new spectroscopic technique

Abstract

High-precision laser spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen has led to an impressive accuracy in tests of bound-state quantum electrodynamics (QED). At the current level of accuracy many systematics have to be studied very carefully and only independent measurements provide the ultimate cross-check. This has been proven recently by measurements in muonic hydrogen, eventually leading to a significant shift of the CODATA recommended values of the proton charge radius and the Rydberg constant. We aim to contribute to tests of fundamental physics by measuring the 1S-2S transition in the He$^+$ ion for the first time. Combined with measurements in muonic helium ions this can probe the value of the Rydberg constant, test higher-order QED terms, or set benchmarks for ab initio nuclear polarizability calculations. We extend the Ramsey-comb spectroscopy method to the XUV using high-harmonic generation in order to excite a single, trapped He$^+$ ion.