High-precision spectros copy on molecular hydrogen and molecular deuterium
Researchers in Amsterdam and Zurich have taken an important step in extremely pr ecise measurements of molecular hydrogen and molecular deuterium - th e simplest neutral molecules in the universe. Such precision is criti cal because such measurements help physicists test whether our curren t theories about nature are still correct, or whether there are clues to unknown physical phenomena.
Molecular hydrogen consists of two hydrogen atoms bound together. Scientists have been trying for mo re than a century to determine exactly how much energy is required to break that bond: the so-called dissociation energy. Precisely becaus e the molecule is so simple, theorists can make very precise calculat ions. Experimental measurements are then the ultimate test. If experi ment and theory do not match, it may point to new physics outside cur rent models.
Physicist Charlaine Roth and her colleagues develo ped an innovative measurement method, Ramsey comb spectroscopy, which can be used to investigate energy levels in molecular hydrogen with unprecedented precision. Using this technique, a crucial first energy step was measured 100 times more precisely than before.
Togeth er with researchers at ETH Zurich, the remaining energy required to c ompletely dissociate the two atoms was then also measured. This ultim ately allowed the dissociation energy of molecular hydrogen to be det ermined five times more accurately than previously possible.
Th e outcome is striking: the new measurements are in complete agreement with theoretical predictions. This reaffirmed that current physical theories work extremely accurately - but at the same time, the limits of those theories are being tested ever more closely.
The soci al and scientific impact of this kind of precision research extends b eyond fundamental physics alone. Techniques developed for ultra-sharp spectroscopy often later find applications in, for example, quantum technology, advanced sensors and high-precision time measurements. In addition, future, even more precise experiments could potentially re veal anomalies that provide clues about great mysteries in the univer se, such as dark matter and dark energy.
Roth: "The results mar k the beginning of a new phase in the international race between expe riment and theory. Further improvements in measurements will force th eorists to hone their calculations again - in the quest for an even d eeper understanding of the laws of nature that govern our universe."< /p>
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DESCRIPTION: Researchers in Amsterdam and Zurich have taken an importa nt step in extremely precise measurements of molecular hydrogen and m olecular deuterium - the simplest neutral molecules in the universe. Such precision is critical because such measurements help physicists test whether our current theories about nature are still correct, or whether there are clues to unknown physical phenomena. Molecular hydr ogen consists of two hydrogen atoms bound together. Scientists have b een trying for more than a century to determine exactly how much ener gy is required to break that bond: the so-called dissociation energy. Precisely because the molecule is so simple, theorists can make very precise calculations. Experimental measurements are then the ultimat e test. If experiment and theory do not match, it may point to new ph ysics outside current models. Physicist Charlaine Roth and her collea gues developed an innovative measurement method, Ramsey comb spectros copy, which can be used to investigate energy levels in molecular hyd rogen with unprecedented precision. Using this technique, a crucial f irst energy step was measured 100 times more precisely than before. T ogether with researchers at ETH Zurich, the remaining energy required to completely dissociate the two atoms was then also measured. This ultimately allowed the dissociation energy of molecular hydrogen to b e determined five times more accurately than previously possible. The outcome is striking: the new measurements are in complete agreement with theoretical predictions. This reaffirmed that current physical t heories work extremely accurately - but at the same time, the limits of those theories are being tested ever more closely. The social and scientific impact of this kind of precision research extends beyond f undamental physics alone. Techniques developed for ultra-sharp spectr oscopy often later find applications in, for example, quantum technol ogy, advanced sensors and high-precision time measurements. In additi on, future, even more precise experiments could potentially reveal an omalies that provide clues about great mysteries in the universe, suc h as dark matter and dark energy. Roth: "The results mark the beginni ng of a new phase in the international race between experiment and th eory. Further improvements in measurements will force theorists to ho ne their calculations again - in the quest for an even deeper underst anding of the laws of nature that govern our universe." Learn more ab out the dissertation High-precision spectroscopy on molecular hydrogen and molecular deuterium END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR