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The size of the proton

Author

Listed:
  • Randolf Pohl

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik)

  • Aldo Antognini

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik)

  • François Nez

    (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, and Université P. et M. Curie-Paris 6, 75252 Paris, Cedex 05, France)

  • Fernando D. Amaro

    (Universidade de Coimbra)

  • François Biraben

    (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, and Université P. et M. Curie-Paris 6, 75252 Paris, Cedex 05, France)

  • João M. R. Cardoso

    (Universidade de Coimbra)

  • Daniel S. Covita

    (Universidade de Coimbra
    I3N, Universidade de Aveiro)

  • Andreas Dax

    (Yale University)

  • Satish Dhawan

    (Yale University)

  • Luis M. P. Fernandes

    (Universidade de Coimbra)

  • Adolf Giesen

    (Institut für Strahlwerkzeuge, Universität Stuttgart
    Present addresses: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. in der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany (A.G.); International Atomic Energy Agency, A-1400 Vienna, Austria (F.M.).)

  • Thomas Graf

    (Institut für Strahlwerkzeuge, Universität Stuttgart)

  • Theodor W. Hänsch

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik)

  • Paul Indelicato

    (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, and Université P. et M. Curie-Paris 6, 75252 Paris, Cedex 05, France)

  • Lucile Julien

    (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, and Université P. et M. Curie-Paris 6, 75252 Paris, Cedex 05, France)

  • Cheng-Yang Kao

    (National Tsing Hua University)

  • Paul Knowles

    (Université de Fribourg)

  • Eric-Olivier Le Bigot

    (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, and Université P. et M. Curie-Paris 6, 75252 Paris, Cedex 05, France)

  • Yi-Wei Liu

    (National Tsing Hua University)

  • José A. M. Lopes

    (Universidade de Coimbra)

  • Livia Ludhova

    (Université de Fribourg)

  • Cristina M. B. Monteiro

    (Universidade de Coimbra)

  • Françoise Mulhauser

    (Université de Fribourg
    Present addresses: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. in der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany (A.G.); International Atomic Energy Agency, A-1400 Vienna, Austria (F.M.).)

  • Tobias Nebel

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik)

  • Paul Rabinowitz

    (Princeton University)

  • Joaquim M. F. dos Santos

    (Universidade de Coimbra)

  • Lukas A. Schaller

    (Université de Fribourg)

  • Karsten Schuhmann

    (Dausinger & Giesen GmbH, Rotebühlstr. 87, 70178 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Catherine Schwob

    (Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, and Université P. et M. Curie-Paris 6, 75252 Paris, Cedex 05, France)

  • David Taqqu

    (Paul Scherrer Institute)

  • João F. C. A. Veloso

    (I3N, Universidade de Aveiro)

  • Franz Kottmann

    (Institut für Teilchenphysik, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland)

Abstract

Shrinking the proton Considering that the proton is a basic subatomic component of all ordinary matter — as well as being ubiquitous in its solo role as the hydrogen ion H+ — there are some surprising gaps in our knowledge of its structure and behaviour. A collaborative project to determine the root-mean-square charge radius of the proton to better than the 1% accuracy of the current 'best' value suggests that those knowledge gaps may be greater than was thought. The new determination comes from a technically challenging spectroscopic experiment — the measurement of the Lamb shift (the energy difference between a specific pair of energy states) in 'muonic hydrogen', an exotic atom in which the electron is replaced by its heavier twin, the muon. The result is unexpected: a charge radius about 4% smaller than the previous value. The discrepancy remains unexplained. Possible implications are that the value of the most accurately determined fundamental constant, the Rydberg constant, will need to be revised — or that the validity of quantum electrodynamics theory is called into question.

Suggested Citation

  • Randolf Pohl & Aldo Antognini & François Nez & Fernando D. Amaro & François Biraben & João M. R. Cardoso & Daniel S. Covita & Andreas Dax & Satish Dhawan & Luis M. P. Fernandes & Adolf Giesen & Thomas, 2010. "The size of the proton," Nature, Nature, vol. 466(7303), pages 213-216, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:466:y:2010:i:7303:d:10.1038_nature09250
    DOI: 10.1038/nature09250
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    Cited by:

    1. Edward H. Jimenez, 2024. "Logistic Regression Analytically Solves the 3D Navier Stokes Equations," Journal of Mathematics Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(6), pages 1-19, December.

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