Atomic masses of tritium and helium-3

By measuring the cyclotron frequency ratios of (3)He(+) to HD(+) and T(+) to HD(+), and using HD(+) as a mass reference, we obtain new atomic masses for (3)He and T. Our results are M[(3)He]=3.016 029 322 43(19)  u and M[T]=3.016 049 281 78(19)  u, where the uncertainty includes an uncertainty of 0....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2015-01, Vol.114 (1), p.013003-013003, Article 013003
Main Authors: Myers, E G, Wagner, A, Kracke, H, Wesson, B A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atomic properties
Cancellation
Cyclotron frequency
Helium-3
Q values
Systematic errors
Tritium
Uncertainty
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Summary:By measuring the cyclotron frequency ratios of (3)He(+) to HD(+) and T(+) to HD(+), and using HD(+) as a mass reference, we obtain new atomic masses for (3)He and T. Our results are M[(3)He]=3.016 029 322 43(19)  u and M[T]=3.016 049 281 78(19)  u, where the uncertainty includes an uncertainty of 0.12 nu in the mass reference. Allowing for cancellation of common systematic errors, we find the Q value for tritium β decay to be (M[T]-M[(3)He])c(2)=18 592.01(7)  eV. This allows an improved test of systematics in measurements of tritium β decay that set limits on neutrino mass.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.013003