Laser excitation of the 1 S -2 S transition in singly-ionized helium.

Laser spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen and hydrogen-like atoms is a powerful tool for tests of fundamental physics. The 1 S -2 S transition of hydrogen in particular is a cornerstone for stringent Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) tests and for an accurate determination of the Rydberg constant. We report laser excitation of the 1 S -2 S transition in singly-ionized helium ( ³ He ⁺ ), a hydrogen-like ion with much higher sensitivity to QED than hydrogen itself. The transition requires two-photon excitation in the challenging extreme ultraviolet wavelength range, which we achieve with a tabletop coherent laser system suitable for precision spectroscopy. The transition is excited by combining an ultrafast amplified pulse at 790 nm (derived from a frequency comb laser) with its 25th harmonic at 32 nm (produced by high-harmonic generation). The results are well described by our simulations and we achieve a sizable 2S excitation fraction of 10 ^-4 per pulse, paving the way for future precision studies.
Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests.
(© The Author(s) 2024.)