Observing a single hydrogen-like ion in a Penning trap at T = 4 K

We describe how a single hydrogen-like ion (C⁵⁺) is prepared, cooled with the method of resistive cooling and non-destructively detected with the image-current technique in a cryogenic Penning trap at T = 4 K. The storage time for C⁵⁺-ions in the cryogenically pumped vacuum chamber is longer than six months. The experimental techniques of preparing, cooling and detecting highly-charged ions in a Penning trap are relevant for precision experiments such as g-factor measurements, mass spectroscopy and laser spectroscopy. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

350-fold improved measurement of the antiproton magnetic moment using a multi-trap method

We summarize our recent 1.5 parts per billion measurement of the antiproton magnetic moment using the multi Penning-trap system of the BASE collaboration. The result was achieved by combining the detection of individual spin-transitions of a single antiproton with a novel two-particle spectroscopy technique, which dramatically improved the data sampling rate. This measurement contributes to improve the test of the fundamental charge, parity, time reversal (CPT) invariance in the baryon sector by a factor of 350 compared to our last measurement, and by a factor of 3000 compared to the best competing measurement. We review the measurement technique and discuss the improved limits on CPT-violating physics imposed by this measurement.     

An Interconnect Bus Power Optimization Method

A simple yet accurate interconnect parasitical capacitance model is presented. Based on this model a novel interconnect bus optimization methodology is proposed. Combining wire spacing with wire ordering, this methodology focuses on bus dynamic power optimization with consideration of bus performance requirements. The optimization methodology is verified under a 65 nm technology node and it shows that with 50% slack in the routing space, a 33.039% power saving can be provided by the proposed optimization methodology for an intermediate video bus compared to the 27.68% power saving provided by uniform spacing technology. The proposed methodology is especially suitable for computer-aided design of nanometer scale on-chip buses.     

g-Factor of heavy ions: a new access to the fine structure constant

A possibility for a determination of the fine structure constant in experiments on the bound-electron g-factor is examined. It is found that studying a specific difference of the g-factors of B- and H-like ions of the same spinless isotope in the Pb region to the currently accessible experimental accuracy of 7 x 10(-10) would lead to a determination of the fine structure constant to an accuracy which is better than that of the currently accepted value. Further improvements of the experimental and theoretical accuracy could provide a value of the fine structure constant which is several times more precise than the currently accepted one.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis> factor of Li-like ions with a nonzero nuclear spin

A relativistic theory of the g factor of Li-like ions with a nonzero nuclear spin is considered for the 1s ² 2s state. A correction to the atomic g factor for the magnetic-dipole hyperfine interaction is calculated including the one-electron contribution, as well as the contribution of interelectronic-interaction effects of the order of 1/Z. Along with corrections for the interelectronic interaction, quantum electrodynamic effects, nuclear recoil, and finite nuclear size, this correction allows high-precision theoretical values for the g factor of Li-like ions with a nonzero nuclear spin to be obtained. The results can be used for refining the nuclear magnetic moments from comparison with experimentally determined values of the g factor.     

Electron Magnetic Moment in Highly Charged Ions: The ARTEMIS Experiment

The magnetic moment (g‐factor) of the electron is a fundamental quantity in physics that can be measured with high accuracy by spectroscopy in Penning traps. Its value has been predicted by theory, both for the case of the free (unbound) electron and for the electron bound in a highly charged ion. Precision measurements of the electron magnetic moment yield a stringent test of these predictions and can in turn be used for a determination of fundamental constants such as the fine structure constant or the atomic mass of the electron. For the bound‐electron magnetic‐moment measurement, two complementary approaches exist, one via the so‐called “continuous Stern–Gerlach effect”, applied to ions with zero‐spin nuclei, and one a spectroscopic approach, applied to ions with nonzero nuclear spin. Here, the latter approach is detailed, and an overview of the experiment and its status is given.     

On-line monitoring of pH junctions in capillary electrophoresis using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry

Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopic detection is proposed as an on-line detection technique for the study of on-line preconcentration processes in capillary electrophoresis (CE). The molecule-specific information contained in mid-IR spectra can be used to directly determine the chemical compositions of individual zones and their boundaries. This paper reports on pH junctions employed in myoglobin analysis. On-line mid-IR detection allowed the shape of the sample peak to be monitored as well as the chemical compositions of the surrounding zones. From this information it was possible to obtain detailed insights into the actual chemical compositions of the individual zones governing the efficiency of the preconcentration technique applied. The principle of measurement outlined here can therefore also be regarded as a promising one for investigating other on-line preconcentration techniques, like stacking, sweeping, and pH junction-sweeping among others. Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopic detection has been employed in pH junction experiments. This approach can be used to measure the chemical compositions of the phase boundaries formed, as well as the relative positions of the analyte in the zones. The principle of this technique is demonstrated by measuring myoglobin (acetate buffer, pH 4.5) in an ammonium BGE (pH 9.25)     

Testing atomic structure theories with high accuracy mass measurements on highly charged ions

The mass of a highly charged ion is the sum of the mass of the nucleus, the mass of the electrons and the electronic binding energies. High accuracy mass measurements on highly charged ions in a sequence of different charge states yield informations on atomic binding energies, i.e., the ionisation potentials. In our contribution we discuss the possibility of determining atomic binding energies of highly charged ions to better than 20 eV via cyclotron frequency measurements in a Penning trap. At this level of accuracy different contributions to the binding energies, like relativistic corrections, Breit corrections and QED corrections, can be measured. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.