Precise measurement of the J = 1 to J = 2 fine structure interval in the 2( 3)P state of helium
We measure the J = 1 to J = 2 fine structure interval in the ( 3)2P state of helium to be 2 291 175.9(1.0) kHz. We use laser excitation of an atomic beam along with an integrated electro-optic modulator technique to obtain this result. The result is consistent (2.9+/-3.2 kHz) with what could be considered an earlier version of this experiment but is not in good agreement ( 20+/-5 kHz and 22+/-8 kHz) with the two other precision determinations of this interval. The current theoretical prediction lies between and overlaps the experiments.
Castillega
J
Department of Physics, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas 76203, USA.
Livingston
D
Sanders
A
Shiner
D