Eur. Phys. J. D 15, 181-188 (2001)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530170164

Determination of the helium-4 mass in a Penning trap

Institut für Physik, Universität Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany

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Received: 30 March 2001
Published online: 15 August 2001

Abstract

We have measured the cyclotron frequencies of He⁺, H^+_2 and D^+_2 ions in a room temperature Penning trap. The resonances were detected destructively by a time-of-flight technique. The statistical uncertainty of the resonance frequencies was generally below 1 ppb. A detailed account of measures to minimize systematic frequency shift is presented. Using the accepted values for the proton and deuteron mass we obtain a value for the ⁴He mass: (0.5 ppb). It is in agreement with the accepted value.