Abstract

In recent years, high-precision vibrational spectroscopy of the H₂⁺ molecular ion has been recognized as a promising method for the metrology of the electron-to-proton mass ratio m_e/m_p. The basis for this possibility is the dependence of transition frequencies on the fundamental constants. The fundamental vibration frequency approximately scales as $h{v}_{vibr}\propto \sqrt{m_e/m_p}{R}_{\infty }$, where R_∞ is the Rydberg constant. A comparison between experimental and theoretical data at the 1 kHz level in H₂⁺ would allow a determination of m_e/m_p with about 10⁻¹⁰ relative accuracy, a significant improvement with respect to the present accuracy of 4.6 10⁻¹⁰. We report on recent theoretical and experimental progress towards this goal.

© 2007 IEEE