Precision Measurements of Transition Amplitudes in Atomic Cesium

University Of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN

Investigators

Abstract

This project consists of several experiments designed to measure atomic transition matrix elements important to the interpretation of atomic parity non-conservation (PNC) experiments. This interpretation requires accurate knowledge of atomic structure and places stringent requirements on the accuracy of atomic structure calculations. These new experiments, which will measure absolute transition strengths to high precision, should be able to determine the value of transition matrix elements accurate to 0.3%, thereby testing theoretical calculations below the current known level of 1%. While the present measurements will focus on cesium, the techniques can be extended to other atoms of interest for testing the standard model and atomic theory.