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New limit on time-reversal violation in beta decay
H P Mumm1, T E Chupp, R L Cooper
1National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|October 11, 2011
Summary
We precisely measured a key value in neutron beta decay, finding no evidence of time-reversal violation. This result strongly constrains new physics beyond the Standard Model.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Physics
- Particle Physics
- Fundamental Symmetries
Background:
- Time-reversal symmetry is a fundamental principle in physics.
- Deviations from time-reversal invariance in beta decay could indicate new physics beyond the Standard Model.
- Previous measurements have provided limits on time-reversal violation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To improve the precision of the triple correlation measurement in neutron beta decay.
- To set more stringent limits on time-reversal invariance.
- To constrain extensions to the Standard Model.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of the triple correlation DP·(p(e)×p(v)) in polarized neutron beta decay.
- Utilizing advanced statistical and systematic error analysis techniques.
- Analysis of experimental data to determine the value of D.
Main Results:
- The triple correlation D was determined to be [-0.96±1.89(stat)±1.01(sys)]×10(-4).
- The phase between the axial-vector (gA) and vector (gV) weak interaction couplings was found to be ϕAV=180.013°±0.028° (68% confidence level).
- This represents the most sensitive measurement of D in nuclear beta decay to date.
Conclusions:
- The results provide the most stringent limits on time-reversal violation in neutron beta decay.
- The precise measurement of ϕAV is consistent with the Standard Model prediction.
- The findings place strong constraints on proposed extensions to the Standard Model.
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