New Observation of Parity Nonconservation in Atomic Thallium

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.46.640· OSTI ID:1108759

Bucksbaum, P.; Commins, E.; Hunter, L.

Refined observations of parity nonconservation in the 6{sup 2}P{sub 1/2} -7{sup 2}P{sub 1/2} transition in {sub 81}Tl {sup 203,205} are reported. Absorption of circularly polarized 293 nm photons by 6{sup 2 }P{sub 1/2} atoms in an E field results in polarization of the 7{sup 2}P{sub 1/2} state, through interference of the Stark E1 amplitude with M1 and parity-nonconserving E1 amplitudes. Detection of this polarization yields the circular dichroism δ=+(2.8±{sup 1.0}{sub 0.9})×10{sup -3}, which agrees with theoretical estimates based on the Weinberg-Salam model, for sin{sup 2} θ{sub W} =0.23 . The present experiment is an improved version of an earlier one in which the result δ = +(5.2 ± 2.4) x 10{sup -3} was obtained.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: Materials Sciences Division
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1108759
• Report Number(s): LBL-11850
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 46; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Publisher: American Physical Society (APS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS