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New Measurement of the Electron Magnetic Moment and the Fine Structure Constant

D. Hanneke, S. Fogwell, and G. Gabrielse
Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 120801 – Published 26 March 2008

Abstract

A measurement using a one-electron quantum cyclotron gives the electron magnetic moment in Bohr magnetons, g/2=1.00115965218073(28) [0.28 ppt], with an uncertainty 2.7 and 15 times smaller than for previous measurements in 2006 and 1987. The electron is used as a magnetometer to allow line shape statistics to accumulate, and its spontaneous emission rate determines the correction for its interaction with a cylindrical trap cavity. The new measurement and QED theory determine the fine structure constant, with α1=137.035999084(51) [0.37 ppb], and an uncertainty 20 times smaller than for any independent determination of α.

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  • Received 4 January 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.120801

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

D. Hanneke, S. Fogwell, and G. Gabrielse*

  • Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA

  • *gabrielse@physics.harvard.edu

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Issue

Vol. 100, Iss. 12 — 28 March 2008

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