Search for parity violation in atomic thallium

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5437963

Conti, R S

Parity non-conservation is observed in the 6/sup 2/P/sub 1/2/ ..-->.. 7/sup 2/P/sub 1/2/ (292.7 nm) M1 transition in atomic Thallium. Tl vapor is illuminated by a pulsed circularly polarized laser beam (lambda = 292.7 nm). Differential absorption to the 7/sup 2/P/sub 1/2/(m/sub F/ = +- 1) sublevels arises due to interference between a parity non-conserving E1 amplitude and the Stark induced E1 amplitude in a non-zero electric field. The differential absorption is detected by exciting the 7/sup 2/P/sub 1/2/ ..-->.. 8/sup 2/S/sub 1/2/ (2.18 ..mu..) E1 transition with a circularly polarized laser beam at 2.18 ..mu.. and observing rate of the subsequent 8/sup 2/S/sub 1/2 ..-->.. 6/sup 2/P/sub 3/2/ spontaneous decay. The matrix element delta/sub PNC/ = Im < 7/sup 2/P/sub 1/2/ absolute value E1/sub PNC/6/sup 2/P/sub 1/2/ > is measured to be delta/sub PNC/ = (-6.4 +- 3.0) x 10/sup -8/ consistent with the gauge theory model of Weinberg and Salam.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Berkeley (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5437963
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640302* -- Atomic
Molecular &amp; Chemical Physics-- Atomic &amp; Molecular Properties &amp; Theory
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ABSORPTION
AMPLITUDES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
LASER RADIATION
MATRIX ELEMENTS
METALS
P INVARIANCE
RADIATIONS
THALLIUM