# From the Rydberg constant to the fondamental constants metrology

Abstract : The Rydberg constant $\ R_\infty = \alpha^2 m_{e} c^2/2hc \$ is deduced from an accurate comparison between experiment and theory of hydrogen atom. The last quantum electrodynamic results established by different ways give the same results. This proves the validity of these calculations. The atomic levels splitting of hydrogen atom are experimentally well known thanks to direct frequency measurements. Thus, the Rydberg constant is one of the best known fundamental constants $\Delta R_\infty / R_\infty = 6.6 10^{-12}$. But to get a fully achieved theory-experiment comparison, one needs to know independently the radius of proton charge distribution. It can be done with muonic hydrogen (in this exotic atom, the electron is replaced by a muon). After a short introduction concerning this comparison, the last development of the muonic hydrogen experiment are presented.

The measurement of the recoil induced by a photon an atom of mass M leads to a relevant determination of the fine structure constant (thanks to the Rydberg constant and the relative atomic mass of the electron and the one of the considered atom). For that, we have developed a new experiment using Bloch oscillations with cold rubidium atoms. The principle is shortly explain while I focus more on the originality of the method. The recent results are presented.
Keywords :
Document type :
Habilitation à diriger des recherches

https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00204773
Contributor : François Nez <>
Submitted on : Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 3:12:33 PM
Last modification on : Tuesday, December 8, 2020 - 3:34:47 AM
Long-term archiving on: : Thursday, September 27, 2012 - 2:20:09 PM

### Identifiers

• HAL Id : tel-00204773, version 1

### Citation

François Nez. From the Rydberg constant to the fondamental constants metrology. Physique Atomique [physics.atom-ph]. Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris VI, 2005. ⟨tel-00204773⟩

Record views