Hydrogen's hidden secrets

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Abstract
Everyone is aware of the central role played by the hydrogen atom in the development of physics during the first half of this century, but it is less well known how important this simple two-body system still remains as a testing ground for fundamental theory. Recent and proposed experiments include attempts to observe parity violation, to demonstrate a Bose condensation, and to carry out precision measurements on exotic hydrogen-like systems such as muonium, positronium and even anti-hydrogen, as well as the more familiar tests of quantum electrodynamics (QED) and measurements on hydrogen and deuterium to determine fundamental constants. Some of this work is based on laser spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen in which there has recently been a major breakthrough: the 1S–2S transition can now be excited by continuous-wave (CW) lasers, so that hydrogen in its ground level can at last be probed by the powerful techniques of tunable laser spectroscopy. This development has particular significance for tests of QED in hydrogen, which have for so long been the preserve of radiofrequency (RF) rather than optical spectroscopy.

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