Atomic parity nonconservation: Electroweak parameters and nuclear structure

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Physical Review, C (Nuclear Physics); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.46.2587· OSTI ID:6891983

Pollock, S J ^[1]; Fortson, E N; Wilets, L ^[2]

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1. Institute for Nuclear Theory, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195 (United States)
2. Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195 (United States)

There have been suggestions to measure atomic parity nonconservation (PNC) along an isotopic chain, by taking ratios of observables in order to cancel complicated atomic-structure effects. Precise atomic PNC measurements could make a significant contribution to tests of the standard model at the level of one-loop radiative corrections. However, the results also depend upon certain features of nuclear structure, such as the spatial distribution of neutrons in the nucleus. To examine the sensitivity to nuclear structure, we consider the case of Pb isotopes using various recent relativistic and nonrelativistic nuclear model calculations. Contributions from nucleon internal weak structure are included, but found to be fairly negligible. The spread among present models in predicted sizes of nuclear-structure effects may preclude using Pb isotope ratios to test the standard model at better than a 1% level, unless there are adequate independent tests of the nuclear models by various alternative strong and electroweak nuclear probes. On the other hand, sufficiently accurate atomic PNC experiments would provide a unique method to measure neutron distributions in heavy nuclei.

• DOE Contract Number: FG06-90ER40561; FG06-88ER40427
• OSTI ID: 6891983
• Journal Information: Physical Review, C (Nuclear Physics); (United States), Vol. 46:6; ISSN 0556-2813
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ATOMS
PARITY
LEAD ISOTOPES
NUCLEAR STRUCTURE
CONSERVATION LAWS
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
ELECTRON-NUCLEON INTERACTIONS
ISOTOPES
NEUTRONS
WEAK INTERACTIONS
BARYONS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
INTERACTIONS
LEPTON-BARYON INTERACTIONS
LEPTON-HADRON INTERACTIONS
LEPTON-NUCLEON INTERACTIONS
NUCLEONS
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
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