Author:

Keywords:

Science & Technology, Physical Sciences, Physics, Multidisciplinary, Physics, DIPOLE-MOMENTS, COUPLED-CLUSTER, G-QUADRUPLEX, BASIS-SETS, SHIELDING CONSTANTS, TRIPLE-ZETA, SPIN, IONS, EXCHANGE, SPECTROSCOPY, 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences, 0204 Condensed Matter Physics, 0206 Quantum Physics, 51 Physical sciences

Abstract:

We determine for the first time the magnetic dipole moment of a short-lived nucleus with part-per-million (ppm) accuracy. To achieve this 2-orders-of-magnitude improvement over previous studies, we implement a number of innovations into our β-detected nuclear magnetic resonance (β-NMR) setup at ISOLDE at CERN. Using liquid samples as hosts, we obtain narrow, subkilohertz-linewidth, resonances, while a simultaneous in situ 1H NMR measurement allows us to calibrate and stabilize the magnetic field to ppm precision, thus eliminating the need for additional β-NMR reference measurements. Furthermore, we use ab initio calculations of NMR shielding constants to improve the accuracy of the reference magnetic moment, thus removing a large systematic error. We demonstrate the potential of this combined approach with the 1.1 s half-life radioactive nucleus 26Na, which is relevant for biochemical studies. Our technique can be readily extended to other isotopic chains, providing accurate magnetic moments for many short-lived nuclei. Furthermore, we discuss how our approach can open the path toward a wide range of applications of the ultrasensitive β-NMR in physics, chemistry, and biology.