The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $129,851 Project Grant under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) federal grant program to Florida State University (FSU) to conduct precision measurements on ions. The key goals of this 3-year project are to:
Measure the mass of the electron with an uncertainty of 10 parts-per-trillion, which would represent a 3-fold improvement over the previous best measurements. This highly precise electron mass is critical for theoretical predictions related to the rotation and vibration of molecular hydrogen ions.
Perform measurements on molecular hydrogen ions themselves, including hyperfine structure and magnetic moments, to complement the precise rotational and vibrational frequency data obtained by other researchers.
The project will utilize cryogenic Penning ion traps and single-ion techniques at FSU to carry out these high-precision measurements. Graduate and undergraduate students will participate in developing the experimental system and conducting the research, gaining valuable STEM research experience.