791 research outputs found
Lorentz violation in neutron and allowed nuclear beta decay
We explore the possibility that the weak interaction violates Lorentz, and in
particular rotational, invariance in neutron and allowed nuclear beta decay. A
broad class of Lorentz-violating effects is considered, in which the standard
propagator of the W-boson acquires an additional Lorentz-violating tensor. The
general decay rate for allowed beta decay that incorporates such a modified
propagator is derived. The resulting Lorentz-violating signals are discussed
for the different types of beta-decay transitions, Fermi, Gamow-Teller, and
mixed. We study the implications of our formalism for dedicated beta-decay
experiments. We give a short overview of the few relevant experiments that have
been performed or are ongoing.Comment: 23 pages; added reference
Limits on Lorentz violation in neutral-Kaon decay
The KLOE collaboration recently reported bounds on the directional dependence
of the lifetime of the short-lived neutral kaon K_S with respect to the cosmic
microwave background dipole anisotropy. We interpret their results in a general
framework developed to probe Lorentz violation in the weak interaction. In this
approach a Lorentz-violating tensor \chi_{\mu\nu} is added to the standard
propagator of the W boson. We derive the K_S decay rate in a naive tree-level
model and calculate the asymmetry for the lifetime. By using the KLOE data the
real vector part of \chi_{\mu\nu} is found to be smaller than 10^-2. We briefly
discuss the theoretical challenges concerning nonleptonic decays.Comment: Presented at the Sixth Meeting on CPT and Lorentz Symmetry,
Bloomington, Indiana, June 17-21, 2013
Nuclear beta decay with Lorentz violation
We consider the possibility of Lorentz-invariance violation in weak-decay
processes. We present a general approach that entails modifying the W-boson
propagator by adding a Lorentz-violating tensor to it. We describe the effects
of Lorentz violation on nuclear beta decay in this scenario. In particular we
show the expression for a first-forbidden transition with a spin change of two.
Using data from an old experiment on the rotational invariance of yttrium-90,
we derive several bounds on the Lorentz-violating parameters of the order of
10^(-6)-10^(-8).Comment: 4 pages; presented at the Sixth Meeting on CPT and Lorentz Symmetry,
Bloomington, Indiana, June 17-21, 2013; Added reference
Symmetry violations in nuclear and neutron decay
The role of decay as a low-energy probe of physics beyond the
Standard Model is reviewed. Traditional searches for deviations from the
Standard Model structure of the weak interaction in decay are discussed
in the light of constraints from the LHC and the neutrino mass. Limits on the
violation of time-reversal symmetry in decay are compared to the strong
constraints from electric dipole moments. Novel searches for Lorentz symmetry
breaking in the weak interaction in decay are also included, where we
discuss the unique sensitivity of decay to test Lorentz invariance. We
end with a roadmap for future -decay experiments.Comment: Accepted for publication in Rev. Mod. Phys. 86 pages, 13 figure
Testing Lorentz invariance in orbital electron capture
Searches for Lorentz violation were recently extended to the weak sector, in
particular neutron and nuclear decay [1]. From experiments on forbidden
-decay transitions strong limits in the range of -
were obtained on Lorentz-violating components of the -boson propagator [2].
In order to improve on these limits strong sources have to be considered. In
this Brief Report we study isotopes that undergo orbital electron capture and
allow experiments at high decay rates and low dose. We derive the expressions
for the Lorentz-violating differential decay rate and discuss the options for
competitive experiments and their required precision.Comment: accepted for publication as a Brief Report in Physical Review
Exploration of Lorentz violation in neutral-kaon decay
The KLOE collaboration recently reported bounds on the directional dependence
of the lifetime of the short-lived neutral kaon with respect to the
dipole anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background. We interpret their
results in an effective field theory framework developed to probe the violation
of Lorentz invariance in the weak interaction and previously applied to
semileptonic processes, in particular decay. In this approach a general
Lorentz-violating tensor is added to the standard propagator of
the boson. We perform an exploratory study of the prospects to search for
Lorentz violation in nonleptonic decays. For the kaon, we find that the
sensitivity to Lorentz violation is limited by the velocity of the kaons and by
the extent to which hadronic effects can be calculated. In a simple model we
derive the decay rate and calculate the asymmetry for the lifetime.
Using the KLOE data, limits on the values of are determined.Comment: accepted for publication in Physics Letters
Radium single-ion optical clock
We explore the potential of the electric quadrupole transitions
7s\,^2S_{1/2} - 6d\,^2D_{3/2}, 6d\,^2D_{5/2} in radium isotopes as
single-ion optical frequency standards. The frequency shifts of the clock
transitions due to external fields and the corresponding uncertainties are
calculated. Several competitive Ra candidates with 223 - 229 are
identified. In particular, we show that the transition
7s\,^2S_{1/2}\,(F=2,m_F=0) - 6d\,^2D_{3/2}\,(F=0,m_F=0) at 828 nm in
Ra, with no linear Zeeman and electric quadrupole shifts, stands
out as a relatively simple case, which could be exploited as a compact, robust,
and low-cost atomic clock operating at a fractional frequency uncertainty of
. With more experimental effort, the Ra clocks
could be pushed to a projected performance reaching the level.Comment: 20 pages, 1 figur
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