Testing Quantum Electrodynamics with Exotic Atoms

Abstract

Precision study of few-electron, high-Z ions is a privileged field for probing high-field, boundstate quantum electrodynamics (BSQED). However, the accuracy of such tests is plagued by nuclear uncertainties, which are often larger than the BSQED effects under investigation. We propose an alternative method with exotic atoms, and show that transitions may be found between circular Rydberg states where nuclear contributions are vanishing while BSQED effects remain large. When probed with newly available quantum sensing detectors, these systems offer gains in sensitivity of 1 to 2 orders of magnitude, while the mean electric field in these systems largely exceeds the Schwinger limit.