Precision Determination of the Hyperfine Structure of the Ground State of Atomic Hydrogen, Deuterium, and Tritium

A determination of the hyperfine structure of the ground state of atomic hydrogen, deuterium, and tritium was made. A 1-Mc/sec output of an Atormichron was multiplied in a Gertsch AM-1 and used to phase lock the Gertsch FM-4 at a high frequency. The hyperfine transitions were driven by a radar jamming oscillator and beat with output of the Gerch FM-4. This beat frequency (3 to 4 Mc/sec) was amplified, compared in a phase-detecting circuit, and counted with an electronic counter. The pressure shfft of the buffer gases (argon, neon, and helium was determined. Hyperfine splitting data were obtained by extrapolating to zero pressure. (C.J.G.)