Experimental confirmation of Breit and Teller hypothesis using correlated two-photon radiation from metasable atomic deuterium and an achromatic half-wave plate

Özet

We report the results of a novel experiment which, for the first time, involves the interaction of two photons, produced in the two photon decay of metastable atomic deuterium, with an achromatic half-wave plate. The results agree with the quantum mechanical predictions and confirm the hypothesis of Breit and Teller that the fine and hyperfine interaction play no role in the emission process.