Search for Pauli Exclusion Principle violations with Gator at LNGS

Area of Science:

• Fundamental Physics
• Quantum Mechanics
• Particle Physics

Background:

• The Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP) is a cornerstone of quantum mechanics, arising from fundamental symmetries in quantum field theories.
• Its precise physical origin remains an area of active research and theoretical investigation.
• Experimental searches for minute PEP violations offer a sensitive method to probe the Standard Model's assumptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally test for violations of the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP) in atomic transitions.
• To set new, stringent upper limits on the probability of PEP violation.
• To investigate PEP in lead atoms using a novel experimental setup.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Gator detector, a low-background, high-purity germanium detector at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso.
• Employed a technique involving direct current to introduce electrons, forming a new symmetry state and satisfying the Messiah-Greenberg superselection rule.
• Measured atomic transitions in lead to search for PEP-violating effects.

Main Results:

• No evidence of Pauli Exclusion Principle violation was detected in the experiment.
• An upper limit on the PEP violation probability was established at $$ (90% CL).
• This result improves upon previous constraints by over an order of magnitude.

Conclusions:

• The experiment provides the most stringent limit to date on PEP violation in lead atoms.
• The findings support the validity of the Pauli Exclusion Principle under the tested conditions.
• This work contributes to high-precision tests of fundamental symmetries in physics.