Proton Radius: A Puzzle or a Solution!?

Abstract

The proton radius puzzle is known as the discrepancy of the proton radius, obtained from muonic hydrogen spectroscopy (obtained as being roughly equal to 0.84 fm), and the proton radius obtained from (ordinary) hydrogen spectroscopy where a number of measurements involving highly excited states have traditionally favored a value of about 0.88 fm. Recently, a number of measurements of hydrogen transitions by the Munich (Garching) groups (notably, several hyperfine-resolved sublevels of the 2S–4P) and by the group at the University of Toronto (2S–2P 1/2) have led to transition frequency data consistent with the smaller proton radius of about 0.84 fm. A recent measurement of the 2S–8D transition by a group at Colorado State University leads to a proton radius of about 0.86 fm, in between the two aforementioned results. The current situation points to a possible, purely experimental, resolution of the proton radius puzzle. However, a closer look at the situation reveals that the situation may be somewhat less clear, raising the question of whether or not the proton radius puzzle has been conclusively solved, and opening up interesting experimental possiblities at TRIUMF/ARIEL.