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AI Summary of Peer-Reviewed Research

This page presents an AI-generated summary of a published research paper. The original authors did not write or review this article. [See full disclosure ↓]

Publishing process signals: STRONG — reflects the venue and review process. — venue and review process.

Atomic hydrogen test agrees with Standard Model prediction

Three black and metallic laser or spectroscopy instruments arranged in a row on a laboratory bench, illuminated by blue and purple light from above, with glowing display panels visible in the background.
Research area:Atomic physicsAtomic and Molecular PhysicsQuantum and Classical Electrodynamics

What the study found

The study reports that the measured atomic hydrogen transition frequency agrees with the Standard Model prediction. The authors also state that this result tests the Standard Model to 0.7 parts per trillion and bound-state quantum electrodynamics corrections to 0.5 parts per million.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors conclude that this is the most precise test so far of bound-state quantum electrodynamics, a set of quantum theory corrections for particles bound together in atoms. They also note that their result is in excellent agreement with the muonic value and is at least 2.5-fold more precise than other atomic hydrogen determinations.

What the researchers tested

The researchers studied an atomic hydrogen transition frequency and compared their measurement with the Standard Model prediction. The abstract also refers to a derived proton radius value of 0.8406(15) fm, which is given as part of the reported results.

What worked and what didn't

The measured transition frequency and the Standard Model prediction are described as in excellent agreement. The reported proton radius is said to be at least 2.5-fold more precise than other atomic hydrogen determinations and in excellent agreement with the muonic value.

What to keep in mind

The abstract provides only a brief summary, so no detailed limitations or caveats are described there. The information here is limited to the title and abstract.

Key points

  • The measured atomic hydrogen transition frequency agrees with the Standard Model prediction.
  • The study tests the Standard Model to 0.7 parts per trillion.
  • The abstract says bound-state quantum electrodynamics corrections were tested to 0.5 parts per million.
  • The reported proton radius is 0.8406(15) fm.
  • The authors say the result is at least 2.5-fold more precise than other atomic hydrogen determinations.

Disclosure

Research title:
Atomic hydrogen test agrees with Standard Model prediction
Authors:
Lothar Maisenbacher, Vitaly Wirthl, Arthur Matveev, Alexey Grinin, Randolf Pohl, Theodor W. Hänsch, Thomas Udem
Institutions:
Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, University of California, Berkeley, Northwestern University, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Publication date:
2026-02-11
DOI:
10.1038/s41586-026-10124-3
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by OpenAI. The original authors did not write or review this post.

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