Abstract New unification theories predict large extra dimensions (LEDs). If that is the case, gravity would be stronger at short ranges than what Newtonian gravity predicts. LEDs could also have effects at atomic level. In this paper we propose a new method to constrain the size of `gravity-only' LEDs by analysing how these LEDs modify the energy of the atomic transitions 1s--2s and 2s--2p (Lamb shift), in the particular case of the hydrogen and muonium atoms. We estimate these effects by using Bethe's non-relativistic treatment of Lamb shift. In the particular case of three LEDs, which may be a candidate to explain the interaction mechanism of dark matter particles, we have found that current knowledge in atomic spectroscopy could constrain their sizes to less than 10 $\mu$m. Although our contributions do not reach the sensitivity given by SN1987a, they are still slightly better than recent constraints given by Inverse Square Law tests of the Eöt--Wash group at Washington University, which gave $R_{3} < 36.6\,\mu$m.
Accepted manuscript online:
PACS:
04.50.-h
(Higher-dimensional gravity and other theories of gravity)
Fund: Project
supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant
No 10475114) and the Foundation of Minor Planets of Purple Mountain
Observatory, China.
Cite this article:
Li Zhi-Gang(李志刚), Ni Wei-Tou(倪维斗), and Antonio Pulido Patón Extra dimensions and atomic transition frequencies 2008 Chin. Phys. B 17 70
Altmetric calculates a score based on the online attention an article receives. Each coloured thread in the circle represents a different type of online attention. The number in the centre is the Altmetric score. Social media and mainstream news media are the main sources that calculate the score. Reference managers such as Mendeley are also tracked but do not contribute to the score. Older articles often score higher because they have had more time to get noticed. To account for this, Altmetric has included the context data for other articles of a similar age.
