Uranium polarizability measured by light-force technique

We report the measurement of the scalar α₀ and tensor α₂ polarizabilities of uranium using a light-force technique, the first accurate measurement of the polarizabilities of a refractory element. At the fundamental wavelength of a Nd:YAG laser (1.064 {μ}m) we measure α₀=24.9±{}1.5 A³ and α₂=0.7±{}1.7 A³. From these values we determine the dc polarizabilities to be α₀=20.3±{}1.4 A³ and α₂=0.7±{}1.8 A³. Calculations of α₀(dc) are within 30% of this measurement.