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Atomic parity nonconservation and neutron radii in cesium isotopes

Journal Article · · Physical Review, C (Nuclear Physics); (United States)
 [1];  [2]
  1. W. K. Kellogg Radiation Laboratory, 106-38, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125 (United States)
  2. Norman Bridge Laboratory of Physics, 161-33, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125 (United States)

The interpretation of future precise experiments on atomic parity violation in terms of parameters of the standard model could be hampered by uncertainties in the atomic and nuclear structure. While the former can be overcome by measurement in a series of isotopes, the nuclear structure requires knowledge of the neutron density. We use the nuclear Hartree-Fock method, which includes deformation effects, to calculate the proton and neutron densities in [sup 125]Cs--[sup 139]Cs. We argue that the good agreement with the experimental charge radii, binding energies, and ground-state spins signifies that the phenomenological nuclear force and the method of calculation that we use is adequate. Based on this agreement, and on calculations involving different effective interactions, we estimate the uncertainties in the differences of the neutron radii [delta][l angle][ital r][sup 2][r angle][sub [ital N],][ital N[prime]] and conclude that they cause uncertainties in the ratio of weak charges, the quantities determined in the atomic parity nonconservation experiments, of less than 10[sup [minus]3]. Such an uncertainty, although to some extent model dependent, is safely smaller than the anticipated experimental error.

DOE Contract Number:
FG03-88ER40397
OSTI ID:
6199080
Journal Information:
Physical Review, C (Nuclear Physics); (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, C (Nuclear Physics); (United States) Vol. 48:3; ISSN 0556-2813; ISSN PRVCAN
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English