First Test of Lorentz Invariance in the Weak Decay of Polarized Nuclei

• Main Authors: Müller, S. E, Dijck, E. A, Bekker, H, Berg, J. E. van den, Böll, O, Hoekstra, S, Jungmann, K, Meinema, C, Noordmans, J. P, Portela, M. Nuñez, Onderwater, C. J. G, Pijpker, C, van der Poel, A. P. P, Santra, B, Sytema, A, Timmermans, R. G. E, Versolato, O. O, Willmann, L, Wilschut, H. W, Yai, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 25-10-2013
• Subjects: Physics - High Energy Physics - Phenomenology; Physics - Nuclear Experiment; Physics - Nuclear Theory
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1310.3206

Phys. Rev. D 88, 071901 (2013) A new test of Lorentz invariance in the weak interactions has been made by
searching for variations in the decay rate of spin-polarized 20Na nuclei. This
test is unique to Gamow-Teller transitions, as was shown in the framework of a
recently developed theory that assumes a Lorentz symmetry breaking background
field of tensor nature. The nuclear spins were polarized in the up and down
direction, putting a limit on the amplitude of sidereal variations of the form
|(\Gamma_{up} - \Gamma_{down})| / (\Gamma_{up} + \Gamma_{down}) < 3 * 10^{-3}.
This measurement shows a possible route toward a more detailed testing of
Lorentz symmetry in weak interactions.