Fine structure of helium and light helium-like ionsThis paper was presented at the International Conference on Precision Physics of Simple Atomic Systems, held at École de Physique, les Houches, France, 30 May – 4 June, 2010.

Abstract

Calculational results are presented for the fine structure splitting of the 23P state of helium and helium-like ions with nuclear charge Z up to 10. Theoretical predictions are in agreement with the latest experimental results for the helium fine structure intervals as well as with the most of the experimental data available for light helium-like ions. Comparing the theoretical value of the 23P0-23P1 interval in helium with experimental results (Zelevinsky et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 203001 (2005)), we determine the value of the fine structure constant α with an accuracy of 31 ppb.