Precision theory of muonic hydrogen and other light hydrogen-like atoms

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Theodor W. Hänsch
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2013 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 242863869

The project is an international cooperation project designed to provide atheoretical support of experimental activity, performed or planned at LMU, MPQ, CERN and PSI in Switzerland, by Russian theoreticians. The experiments will deliver high-resolution spectroscopic results on simple atoms, such as ordinary and muonic hydrogen and many others.Recently, a certain discrepancy in results for the proton charge radius, obtained from spectroscopy muonic and ordinary hydrogen, was discovered. The work within the project is focused on precision theory of energy levels of low-lying states in muonic hydrogen and deuterium. Its purpose is a systematic development of theory of muonic hydrogen in order to verify previous calculations and find new higher-order corrections.It is expected that certain theoretical methods will also be generalized for application in light and medium-Z muonic atoms, as well as to other atoms, such as, e.g., positronium and muonium.Because of the existing controversy a reexamination of existing world data on the subject will be also performed.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Russia
• Partner Organisation: Russian Foundation for Basic Research