Towards Precision Muonic X-ray Measurements of Charge Radii of Light Nuclei

Ben Ohayon, Andreas Abeln, Silvia Bara, Thomas Elias Cocolios, Ofir Eizenberg, Andreas Fleischmann, Loredana Gastaldo, César Godinho, Michael Heines, Daniel Hengstler, Guillaume Hupin, Paul Indelicato, Klaus Kirch, Andreas Knecht, Daniel Kreuzberger, Jorge Machado, Petr Navratil, Nancy Paul, Randolf Pohl, Daniel UngerStergiani Marina Vogiatzi, Katharina von Schoeler, Frederik Wauters

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Abstract

We, the QUARTET Collaboration, propose an experiment to measure the nuclear charge radii of light elements with up to 20 times higher accuracy. These are essential both for understanding nuclear physics at low energies, and for experimental and theoretical applications in simple atomic systems. Such comparisons advance the understanding of bound-state quantum electrodynamics and are useful for searching for new physics beyond the Standard Model. The energy levels of muonic atoms are highly susceptible to nuclear structure, especially to the mean square charge radius. The radii of the lightest nuclei (with the atomic number, (Formula presented.)) have been determined with high accuracy using laser spectroscopy in muonic atoms, while those of medium mass and above were determined using X-ray spectroscopy with semiconductor detectors. In this communication, we present a new experiment, aiming to obtain precision measurements of the radii of light nuclei (Formula presented.) using single-photon energy measurements with cryogenic microcalorimeters; a quantum-sensing technology capable of high efficiency with outstanding resolution for low-energy X-rays.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)206-215
Number of pages10
JournalPhysics (Switzerland)
Volume6
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Feb 2024

Keywords

  • bound-state quantum electrodynamics (QED)
  • charge radius
  • metallic magnetic calorimeter (MMC)
  • muonic atoms
  • nuclear structure
  • simple atomic systems
  • X-ray

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