High precision measurement of the static dipole polarizability of cesium.

The cesium 6(2)S(1/2) scalar dipole polarizability alpha(0) has been determined from the time-of-flight of laser cooled and launched cesium atoms traveling through an electric field. We find alpha(0)=6.611+/-0.009 x 10(-39) C m(2)/V=59.42+/-0.08 x 10(-24) cm(3)=401.0+/-0.6a(3)(0). The 0.14% uncertainty is a factor of 14 improvement over the previous measurement. Values for the 6(2)P(1/2) and 6(2)P(3/2) lifetimes and the 6(2)S(1/2) cesium-cesium dispersion coefficient C6 are determined from alpha(0) using the procedure of Derevianko and Porsev [Phys. Rev. A 65, 053403 (2002)]].