First test of CP invariance in the decay of positronium

Journal Article · Mon Oct 07 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.67.1993· OSTI ID:5220882

Skalsey, M; Van House, J ^[1]

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1. Randall Laboratory of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (USA)

The 3{gamma} decay of spin-aligned triplet positronium (Ps) is used for a test of {ital CP} invariance (charge conjugation and parity). This is the first use of the Ps atom to investigate the {ital CP} symmetry. The angular correlation ({bold {cflx S}}{center dot}{bold {cflx k}}{sub 1})({bold {cflx S}}{center dot}{bold {cflx k}}{sub 1}{times}{bold {cflx k}}{sub 2}) was measured, where {bold S} is the Ps spin and {vert bar}{bold k}{sub 1}{vert bar}{gt}{vert bar}{bold k}{sub 2}{vert bar}{gt}{vert bar}{bold k}{sub 3}{vert bar} are the {gamma} momenta. If this correlation has a nonzero amplitude, {ital CP} is not conserved. No amplitude was found at the 1.5% level of uncertainty.

• OSTI ID: 5220882
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 67:15; ISSN PRLTA; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640303* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Positronium
Muonium
& Muonic & Mesic Atoms & Molecules
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ANGULAR CORRELATION
ASYMMETRY
CHALCOGENIDES
CORRELATIONS
CP INVARIANCE
DATA
DIFFUSION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GAMMA RADIATION
INFORMATION
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
MULTIPLETS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORIENTATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POSITRONIUM
POWDERS
RADIATIONS
RANDOMNESS
SPIN ORIENTATION
TRIPLETS
UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE