Lamb shift experiments on high-Z ions performed at the ESR storage ring

Abstract

The ESR storage ring offers unique conditions for precision investigations in the field of atomic physics. In this review, special emphasis is given to the experiments which address the study of the effects of quantum electrodynamics (QED) in high-Z hydrogen-like systems, e.g. uranium. Here, due to the strong Coulomb field of the nucleus, higher-order radiative corrections can be investigated that are not accessible by experiments for low-Z ions. Since these corrections are largest for the ground-state, the experiments are discussed that are aiming at a precise determination of the ground-state transition energies in heavy hydrogen-like ions. With respect to future experimental perspectives, the deceleration capabilities of the ESR are discussed in detail as well.