New measurement of the electron magnetic moment and the fine structure constant

D. Hanneke*, S. Fogwell, G. Gabrielse

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

804 Scopus citations

Abstract

A measurement using a one-electron quantum cyclotron gives the electron magnetic moment in Bohr magnetons, g/2=1.00115965218073(28) [0.28 ppt], with an uncertainty 2.7 and 15 times smaller than for previous measurements in 2006 and 1987. The electron is used as a magnetometer to allow line shape statistics to accumulate, and its spontaneous emission rate determines the correction for its interaction with a cylindrical trap cavity. The new measurement and QED theory determine the fine structure constant, with α-1=137.035999084(51) [0.37 ppb], and an uncertainty 20 times smaller than for any independent determination of α.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number120801
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume100
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 26 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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