https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2007-00335-x
Towards a test of string theory using Rydberg atoms
1
Quantum Optics and Laser Science Group, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2BW, UK
2
State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, P.R. China
Corresponding author: a jean-patrick@connerade.com
Received:
29
March
2007
Revised:
1
October
2007
Published online:
21
December
2007
The current controversy over the need for an experimental test of String Theory is considered. We report recent experiments on quasi-bound electrons in crossed electric and magnetic fields, in which states of very large electric dipole moment are excited. The excited electron is confined to one side of the atomic nucleus in the outer well of a controllable double-well potential. These states are discussed in relation to a recent theoretical proposal to test the spatial non-commutativity underpinning String Theory by studying Penning orbits of Rydberg atoms in crossed electric and magnetic fields.
PACS: 11.25.-w – Strings and branes / 31.30.-i – Corrections to electronic structure
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2007
