Search for parity non-conservation in the hydrogen atom

Technical Report · Wed Mar 16 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5979240

Iqbal, M Z

A search for parity non-conservation was made in the hydrogen atom by looking for a small admixture of the 2P/sub 1/2/ state in the 2S/sub 1/2/ state. Since the predicted effect due to neutral current interaction is exceedingly small an interference technique was used. The two 2S/sub 1/2/(m;sub J/ = 1/2) ..-->.. 2S/sub 1/2/(m/sub J/ = -1/2) parity conserving and parity non-conserving amplitudes were driven in two separate microwave cavities. A cylindrical geometry is chosen for the apparatus for a great reduction of the contributions from spurious amplitudes. The difference in the transition rate, when the relative sign of the two amplitudes are changed, is the PNC signal. The apparatus, control system and the different measurement techniques are discussed. The present results are limited by the systematic errors due to the presence of stray electric fields. The observed asymmetry when expressed in terms of C/sub 2//sub p/ was found to be equal to 430 +- 500. Possible modifications for further improvement and the feasibility of an experiment in zero magnetic field is discussed in the context of future use of a thermal beam.

• Research Organization: Washington Univ., Seattle (USA). Dept. of Physics
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-81ER40048
• OSTI ID: 5979240
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/40048-53-L3; ON: DE83012903
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640302* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Atomic & Molecular Properties & Theory
645302 -- High Energy Physics-- Particle Invariance Principles & Symmetries-- Applications to Electromagnetic & Weak Interactions-- (-1987)
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALGEBRAIC CURRENTS
COUPLING
CURRENTS
DATA
EIGENSTATES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITED STATES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROGEN
HYPERFINE STRUCTURE
INFORMATION
INTERMEDIATE COUPLING
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
L-S COUPLING
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEASURING METHODS
METASTABLE STATES
NEUTRAL CURRENTS
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
P INVARIANCE
P STATES
S STATES
STARK EFFECT
WEAK NEUTRAL CURRENTS