With PQDT Open, you can read the full text of open access dissertations and theses free of charge.
About PQDT Open
Search
COMING SOON! PQDT Open is getting a new home!
ProQuest Open Access Dissertations & Theses will remain freely available as part of a new and enhanced search experience at www.proquest.com.
Questions? Please refer to this FAQ.
A single electron in a quantum cyclotron provides the most precise measurement of the electron magnetic moment, given in units of the Bohr magneton by g/2 = 1.001 159 652 180 73 (28) [0.28 ppt]. The most precise determination of the fine structure constant comes from combining this measurement with Standard Model theory, yielding α-1 = 137.035 999 173 (34) [0.25 ppb], limited by the experimental uncertainty of the electron g-value. The most stringent test of CPT symmetry in leptons comes from comparing the electron and positron magnetic moments, limited by the positron uncertainty at 4.2 ppt. A new high-stability apparatus has been built and commissioned for improved measurements of the electron and positron magnetic moments, a greatly improved test of lepton CPT symmetry, and an improved determination of the fine structure constant. These new measurements require robust positron loading from a retractable radioactive source that is small enough to avoid compromising the high-precision environment of our experiment. The design and implementation of such a scheme is a central focus of this work. Robust positron loading at a rate of 1-2 e+/min from a 6.5 μCi 22Na source has been demonstrated.
Advisor: | Gabrielse, Gerald |
Commitee: | Manoharan, Vinothan, Silvera, Isaac |
School: | Harvard University |
Department: | Physics |
School Location: | United States -- Massachusetts |
Source: | DAI-B 74/10(E), Dissertation Abstracts International |
Source Type: | DISSERTATION |
Subjects: | Low Temperature Physics, Atomic physics |
Keywords: | Fine structure constant, G-value, Magnetic moments, Penning traps, Positrons |
Publication Number: | 3566927 |
ISBN: | 978-1-303-18492-5 |