arXiv:1304.6560·v1·Atomic Physics
Bounds on fifth forces from precision measurements on molecules
E. J. Salumbides🇳🇱 · J. C. J. Koelemeij🇳🇱 · J. Komasa🇵🇱 · K. Pachucki🇵🇱 · K. S. E. Eikema🇳🇱 · W. Ubachs🇳🇱
Abstract
Highly accurate results from frequency measurements on neutral hydrogen molecules H_2, HD and D_2 as well as the HD^+ ion can be interpreted in terms of constraints on possible fifth-force interactions. Where the hydrogen atom is a probe for yet unknown lepton-hadron interactions, and the helium atom is sensitive for lepton-lepton interactions, molecules open the domain to search for additional long-range hadron-hadron forces. First principles calculations in the framework of quantum electrodynamics have now advanced to the level that hydrogen molecules and hydrogen molecular ions have become calculable systems, making them a search-ground for fifth forces. Following a phenomenological treatment of unknown hadron-hadron interactions written in terms of a Yukawa potential of the form V_5(r)=\beta exp(-r/\lambda)/r current precision measurements on hydrogenic molecules yield a constraint \beta < 1 \times 10^{-7} eVÅfor long-range hadron-hadron interactions at typical force ranges commensurate with separations of a chemical bond, i.e. \lambda ~1 Åand beyond.
Comments: 7 pages, 3 figures, 1 table