Observations of Parity Nonconservation in Atomic Thallium

1981
15 pages
Published in:
  • Phys.Rev.D 24 (1981) 1134-1148

Citations per year

1981199120012011202102468
Abstract: (APS)
A detailed account is given of observations of parity nonconservation in the 6P122−7P122 transition in Tl81203,205. Absorption of circularly polarized 293-nm photons by 6P122 atoms in an E field results in polarization of the 7P122 state through interference of the Stark E1 amplitude with M1 and parity-nonconserving E1 amplitudes. This polarization is detected by selective excitation of mF=±1 components of the 7P122 state to the 8S122 state and observation of the ensuing decay fluorescence at 323 nm. Systematic corrections due to imperfect circular polarization, misaligned E fields, and residual magnetic fields are determined precisely by a series of auxiliary experiments. The result is expressed in terms of the circular dichroism δexpt=+(2.8−0.9+1.0)×10−3, to be compared with estimates based on the Weinberg-Salam model for sin2θw=0.23:δtheo=+(2.1±0.7)×10−3.
  • THALLIUM: ATOM
  • ATOMIC PHYSICS: PARITY
  • PARITY: ATOMIC PHYSICS
  • PHOTON: TRANSITION
  • POLARIZATION: ASYMMETRY
  • ASYMMETRY: POLARIZATION
  • PARITY: VIOLATION
  • VIOLATION: PARITY
  • Salam-Weinberg model
  • EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS