Hyperfine splitting in lithiumlike bismuth - art. no. 032506

Uncertainties involving the distribution of nuclear magnetism that affect t he interpretation of ground-state hyperfine splitting (hfs) in hydrogenlike ions can be avoided by also measuring hyperfine splitting in lithiumlike i ons. Because a recent experiment looking for hfs in lithiumlike bismuth at the predicted value of 0.7971(2) eV had negative results, we have repeated the calculation using a QED approach based on both screened potentials and the Coulomb potential. We find 0.797 15(13) eV, in good agreement with the previous calculation.