Spin-rotation coupling in non-exponential decay of hydrogenlike heavy ions

Understand

We discuss a model in which a recently reported modulation in the decay of the hydrogenlike ions ${}^{140}$Pr$^{58 +}$ and ${}^{142}$Pm$^{60 +}$ arises from the coupling of rotation to the spin of electron and nuclei (Thomas precession).

• A similar model describes the electron modulation in muon $ g-2$ experiments correctly.
• Agreement with the GSI experimental results is obtained for the current QED-values of the bound electron g-factors, $g({}^{140}$Pr$^{58 +})=1.872$ and $g({}^{142}$Pm$^{60 +})=1.864$, if the Lorentz factor of the bound electron is $\sim 1.88$.
• The latter is fixed by either of the two sets of experimental data.