Hydrogen Spectroscopy
PhD and Master thesis
Precision laser spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen and deuterium has long been used to determine physical constants and to test fundamental theories, owing to the simple structure of atoms allowing comparison with precise calculations. We are continuously improving constraints on these tests and shine light on possible discrepancies, such as the proton radius puzzle. At the moment, we are working towards measuring the 2S-6P transition in deuterium which allows for determination of the deuteron radius and further tests of quantum electrodynamics. To reach the required fractional uncertainty of a few parts in 1012 of the transition frequency, a sophisticated control over systematic effects such as quantum interference is required.
PhD thesis: precision spectroscopy of the 2S-6P transition in atomic deuterium