Abstract
Metrology in atomic physics has been crucial for a number of advanced determinations of fundamental constants. In addition to very precise frequency measurements, the molar polarizability of an atomic gas has recently also been measured very accurately. Part of the motivation for the measurements is due to ongoing efforts to redefine the International System of Units (SI), for which an accurate value of the Boltzmann constant is needed. Here we calculate the dominant shift of the molar polarizability in an atomic gas due to thermal effects. It is given by the relativistic correction to the dipole interaction, which emerges when the probing electric field is Lorentz transformed into the rest frame of the atoms that undergo thermal motion. While this effect is small when compared to currently available experimental accuracy, the relativistic correction to the dipole interaction is much larger than the thermal shift of the polarizability induced by blackbody radiation.
Recommended Citation
U. D. Jentschura et al., "Thermal Correction to the Molar Polarizability of a Boltzmann Gas," Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, vol. 84, no. 6, pp. 064102-1 - 064102-3, American Physical Society (APS), Dec 2011.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.84.064102
Department(s)
Physics
Keywords and Phrases
Atomic Gas; Black Body Radiation; Boltzmann; Boltzmann Constants; Dipole Interaction; Frequency Measurements; Fundamental Constants; Lorentz; Polarizabilities; Relativistic Correction; Thermal Correction; Thermal Motion; Thermal Shift; Antenna Radiation; Electric Fields; Gases; Metric System; Polarization; Atoms
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1050-2947
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2011 American Physical Society (APS), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Dec 2011
