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Published on: November 15, 2013
Nonlinear Calcium King Plot Constrains New Bosons and Nuclear Properties.
Alexander Wilzewski1, Lukas J Spieß1, Malte Wehrheim1
1Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
King plots reveal nonlinearities in calcium isotope shifts, potentially indicating beyond-standard-model physics. These nonlinearities, however, are largely explained by nuclear polarization within the standard model, not new physics.
Area of Science:
- Atomic Physics
- Nuclear Physics
- Beyond Standard Model Physics
Background:
- King plots of isotope shifts can probe beyond-standard-model (BSM) interactions.
- Distinguishing BSM effects from higher-order standard model (SM) contributions is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To precisely measure isotope shifts and nuclear mass ratios in calcium isotopes.
- To investigate nonlinearities in King plots and their implications for BSM physics.
Main Methods:
- High-precision measurements of isotope shifts for Ca^{14+} and Ca^{+} transitions.
- Accurate determination of nuclear mass ratios for stable even calcium isotopes.
- Theoretical calculations to analyze standard model contributions to King plot nonlinearities.
Main Results:
- A highly significant (∼10^{3}σ) nonlinearity was observed in the calcium King plot.
- The observed nonlinearity cannot be fully explained by the second-order mass shift within the SM.
- Nuclear polarization is identified as a potential SM explanation for the nonlinearity.
Conclusions:
- The study provides stringent constraints on hypothetical Yukawa interactions.
- Precise atomic measurements are crucial for testing fundamental physics beyond the Standard Model.
- Nuclear polarization effects warrant further investigation in atomic precision measurements.
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