The cyclotron gas stopper project at the NSCL

Permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) violate parity and time-reversal symmetry. Within the Standard Model (SM), they require CP violation and are many orders of magnitude below present experimental sensitivity. Many extensions of the SM predict much larger EDMs, which are therefore an excellent probe for the existence of ‘new physics.’ So far only electrically neutral systems were used for sensitive searches of EDMs. Several techniques, based on storing fast particles in a magnetic storage ring, are being developed to probe charged particles for an EDM. With the introduction of these novel experimental methods, high sensitivity for charged systems, in particular light nuclei, is within reach. The author represents the Storage Ring EDM Collaboration.     

Spontaneous CP violating phase as the CKM matrix phase

We propose that the CP violating phase in the CKM mixing matrix is identical to the CP phases responsible for the spontaneous CP violation in the Higgs potential. A multi-Higgs model with Peccei–Quinn (PQ) symmetry is constructed to realize this idea. The CP violating phase does not vanish when all Higgs masses become large. In general, here are flavor changing neutral current (FCNC) interactions mediated by neutral Higgs bosons at the tree level. However, unlike general multi-Higgs models, the FCNC Yukawa couplings are fixed in terms of the quark masses and CKM mixing angles. Implications for meson–anti-meson mixing, including recent data on D–D̄ mixing, and the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the neutron are studied. We find that the neutral Higgs boson masses can be at the order of one hundred GeV. The neutron EDM can be close to the present experimental upper bound.     

CP violation in a multi higgs doublet model

We study CP violation in a multi-Higgs doublet model based on aS ₃×Z ₃ horizontal symmetry. We consider two mechanisms for CP violation in this model: a) CP violation due to complex Yukawa couplings; and b) CP violation due to scalarpseudoscalar mixings. We find that the predictions for ε′/ε, CP violation in B decays and the electric dipole moments of neutron and electron are different between these two mechanisms. These predictions are also dramatically different from the minimal Standard Model predictions.     

A new search for the atomic EDM of 129Xe at FRM-II

Permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) arise due to the breaking of time-reversal or, equivalently, CP-symmetry. Although EDM searches have so far only set upper limits, which are many orders of magnitude larger than Standard Model (SM) predictions, the motivation for more sensitive searches is stronger than ever. A new effort at FRM-II incorporating ¹²⁹Xe and ³He as a co-magnetometer can potentially improve the current limit. The noble gas mixture of ¹²⁹Xe and ³He is simultanously polarized by spin-exchange optical pumping and then transferred into a high-performance magnetically shielded room. Inside, both species can freely precess in the presence of applied magnetic and electric fields. The precession signals are detected by LTc SQUID sensors. In EDM cells with silicon electrodes we observed spin lifetimes in excess of 2500 s without and with high-voltage applied. This meets one requirement to achieve our goal of improving the EDM limit on ¹²⁹Xe by several orders of magnitude.     

Flavour-dependent CP violation and natural suppression of the electric dipole moments

We revisit the supersymmetric CP problem and find that it can be naturally resolved if the origin of CP violation is closely related to the origin of flavour structures. In this case, the supersymmetry breaking dynamics do not bring in any new CP-violating phases. This mechanism requires hermitian Yukawa matrices which naturally arise in models with a U(3) flavour symmetry. The neutron electric dipole moment (NEDM) is predicted to be within one-two orders of magnitude below the current experimental limit. The model also predicts a strong correlation between A_CP(b→sγ) and the NEDM. The strong CP problem is mitigated although not completely solved.     

Measurement of permanent electric dipole moments of charged hadrons in storage rings

Permanent Electric Dipole Moments (EDMs) of elementary particles violate two fundamental symmetries: time reversal invariance ( $\mathcal{T}$ ) and parity ( $\mathcal{P}$ ). Assuming the $\mathcal{CPT}$ theorem this implies $\mathcal{CP}$ violation. The $\mathcal{CP}$ violation of the Standard Model is orders of magnitude too small to be observed experimentally in EDMs in the foreseeable future. It is also way too small to explain the asymmetry in abundance of matter and anti-matter in our universe. Hence, other mechanisms of $\mathcal{CP}$ violation outside the realm of the Standard Model are searched for and could result in measurable EDMs. Up to now most of the EDM measurements were done with neutral particles. With new techniques it is now possible to perform dedicated EDM experiments with charged hadrons at storage rings where polarized particles are exposed to an electric field. If an EDM exists the spin vector will experience a torque resulting in change of the original spin direction which can be determined with the help of a polarimeter. Although the principle of the measurement is simple, the smallness of the expected effect makes this a challenging experiment requiring new developments in various experimental areas. Complementary efforts to measure EDMs of proton, deuteron and light nuclei are pursued at Brookhaven National Laboratory and at Forschungszentrum Jülich with an ultimate goal to reach a sensitivity of 10^???29 e·cm.     

Fundamental noise sources in a high-sensitivity two-tone frequency modulation spectrometer and detection of CO2 at 1.6 μm and 2 μm

2 , and its sensitivity is 7(2)×10^-8 in a 1-Hz bandwidth. The corresponding minimum detectable concentration of CO₂ in air has been estimated to be 1 ppm · m. This opens the possibility of a detection at ppb levels at 2 μm, where a two orders of magnitude increase in the CO₂ absorption signal is demonstrated. Received: 06 April 1998/Revised version: 02 July 1998     

Photochemically-Induced Fluorescence Dosage of Non-Fluorescent Pyrethroid (Etofenprox) in Natural Water Using a Cationic Micellar Medium

An analytical method based on the use of UV-irradiation to produce fluorescent derivatives from Etofenprox a non-fluorescent pyrethroid insecticide is described. The impact of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) micellar medium on the Etofenprox photochemically-induced fluorescence (PIF) is reported. Parameters influencing the sensitivity and repeatability of the PIF method have been optimized. The alkaline medium (NaOH 6 × 10⁻² M) + CTAC surfactant molecules (3.84 mg/ml) in acetonitrile is found to be very suitable for this pyrethroid insecticide analysis in environment matrices. Linear dynamic range is established over more than two orders of magnitude. The limit of detection is lower than 5 ng/ml. The method seems to be suitable for environmental matrices quality control. Application to the analysis of spiked natural waters gave recoveries rate ranged from 94 to 104% and 107 to 115% respectively for river and pound water.     

Nuclear electric dipole moment of He

A permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) of a physical system requires time-reversal (T) and parity (P) violation. Experimental programs are currently pushing the limits on EDMs in atoms, nuclei, and the neutron to regimes of fundamental theoretical interest. Here we calculate the magnitude of the P-, T-violating EDM of ³He and the expected sensitivity of such a measurement to the underlying P-, T-violating interactions. Assuming that the coupling constants are of comparable magnitude for π-, ρ-, and ω-exchanges, we find that the pion-exchange contribution dominates. Our results suggest that a measurement of the ³He EDM is complementary to the planned neutron and deuteron experiments, and could provide a powerful constraint for the theoretical models of the pion–nucleon P-, T-violating interaction.     

New measurements of the neutron electric dipole moment

We report a new measurement of the neutron electric dipole moment with the PNPI EDM spectrometer using the ultracold neutron source PF2 at the research reactor of the ILL. Its first results can be interpreted as a limit on the neutron electric dipole moment of |d _n | < 5.5 × 10^?26 e cm (90% confidence level).     

Dynamic study of N’N-dimethylparanitroaniline encapsulated in silicalite-1 matrix using neutron spin-echo spectroscopy

The present work focuses on the dynamic studies of N’N-dimethyl-paranitroaniline (dmpNA) encapsulated in silicalite zeolite. Quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) experiments are carried out using neutron spin-echo technique. Polarisation of the scattered neutron beam is measured at carefully chosen values of Q = 0.35, 0.9, 1.1 and 1.45  ?⁻¹ at fixed T = 298  K and at fixed Q = 0.9  ?⁻¹ at 150, 200, 250 and 298 K. This gives insight into the motion and the related activation energy of the guest dmpNA molecule. The quasielastic signal observed in the present system within the time range considered is due to fast local rotational motions of protons of the end methyl groups. The results are in good agreement with the dynamics of methyl group rotations reported in the literature by back-scattering QENS technique.     

Absolute frequency and isotope shift measurements of the cooling transition in singly ionized indium

We report greater than two orders of magnitude improvements in the absolute frequency and isotope shift measurements of the In⁺ 5s^{2 1}S₀ (F = 9/2)–5s5p ³P₁ (F = 11/2) transition near 230.6 nm. The laser-induced fluorescence from a single In⁺ in a radio-frequency trap is detected. The fourth-harmonic of a semiconductor laser is used as the light source. The absolute frequency is measured with the help of a frequency comb referenced to a Cs atomic clock. The resulting transition frequencies for isotopes ¹¹⁵In⁺ and ¹¹³In⁺ are measured to be 1 299 648 954.54(10) MHz and 1 299 649 585.36(16) MHz, respectively. The deduced cooling transition frequency difference is 630.82(19) MHz. By taking into account of the hyperfine interaction, the isotope shift is calculated to be 695.76(1.68) MHz.     

Program of Fundamental-Interaction Research for the Ultracold-Neutron Source at the the WWR-M Reactor

The use of ultracold neutrons opens unique possibilities for studying fundamental interactions in particles physics. Searches for the neutron electric dipole moment are aimed at testing models of CP violation. A precise measurement of the neutron lifetime is of paramount importance for cosmology and astrophysics. Considerable advances in these realms can be made with the aid of a new ultracold-neutron (UCN) supersource presently under construction at Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute. With this source, it would be possible to obtain an UCN density approximately 100 times as high as that at currently the best UCN source at the high-flux reactor of the Institute Laue–Langevin (ILL, Grenoble, France). To date, the design and basic elements of the source have been prepared, tests of a full-scale source model have been performed, and the research program has been developed. It is planned to improve accuracy in measuring the neutron electric dipole moment by one order of magnitude to a level of 10^?27 to 10^?28e cm. This is of crucial importance for particle physics. The accuracy in measuring the neutron lifetime can also be improved by one order of magnitude. Finally, experiments that would seek neutron–antineutron oscillations by employing ultracold neutrons will become possible upon reaching an UCN density of 10³ to 10⁴ cm^?3. The current status of the source and the proposed research program are discussed.     

Discover potential in a search for time-reversal invariance violation in nuclei

Time reversal invariance violating (TRIV) effects in low energy physics could be very important in searching for new physics, being complementary to neutron and atomic electric dipole moment (EDM) measurements. In this relation, we discuss a sensitivity of some TRIV observables to different models of time-reversal (CP) violation and their dependencies on nuclear structure. As a measure of a sensitivity of TRIV effects to the value of TRIV nucleon coupling constant, we introduce a coefficient of a “discovery potential”, which shows a possible factor for improving the current limits of the EDM experiments by measuring nuclear TRIV effects.     

On puzzles and non-puzzles in B→ππ,πK decays

Recently, we have seen interesting progress in the exploration of CP violation in B⁰ _d→π⁺π^-: the measurements of mixing-induced CP violation by the BaBar and Belle collaborations are now in good agreement with each other, whereas the picture of direct CP violation is still unclear. Using the branching ratio and direct CP asymmetry of B⁰ _d→π^-K⁺, this situation can be clarified. We predict , which favours the BaBar result, and we extract γ=(70.0^+3.8 _-4.3)^°, which agrees with the unitarity triangle fits. Extending our analysis to other B→πK modes and B⁰ _s→K⁺K^- with the help of the SU(3) flavour symmetry and plausible dynamical assumptions, we find that all observables with colour-suppressed electroweak penguin contributions are measured to be in excellent agreement with the standard model. As far as the ratios R_c,n of the charged and neutral B→πK branching ratios are concerned, which are sizeably affected by electroweak penguin contributions, our standard-model predictions have almost unchanged central values but significantly reduced errors. Since the new data have moved quite a bit towards these results, the “B→πK puzzle” for the CP conserving quantities has been significantly reduced. However, the mixing-induced CP violation of B⁰ _d→π⁰K_S does look puzzling; if confirmed by future measurements, this effect could be accommodated through a modified electroweak penguin sector with a large CP violating new-physics phase. Finally, we point out that the established difference between the direct CP asymmetries of B^±→π⁰K^± and B_d→π^∓K^± appears to be generated by hadronic and not by new physics.     

Are the New Physics Contributions from the Left-Right Symmetric Model Important for the Indirect CP Violation in the Neutral B Mesons?

No Heading Several works analyzing the new physics contributions from the Left-Right Symmetric Model to the CP violation phenomena in the neutral B mesons can be found in the literature. These works exhibit interesting and experimentally sensible deviations from the Standard Model predictions but at the expense of considering a low right scale υ_R around 1 TeV. However, when we stick to the more conservative estimates for υ_R, which say that it must be at least 10⁷ GeV, no experimentally sensible deviations from the Standard Model appear for indirect CP violation. This estimate for υ_R arises when the generation of neutrino masses is considered. In spite of the fact that this scenario is much less interesting and says nothing new about both the CP violation phenomenon and the structure of the Left-Right Symmetric Model, this possibility must be taken into account for the sake of completeness and when considering the see-saw mechanism that provides masses to the neutrino sector. ¹ Associate researcher of the Centro Internacional de Física, Ciudad Universitaria, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.     

A novel PEO-based composite polymer electrolyte with NaAlOSiO molecular sieves powders

Ion-conducting thin film polymer electrolytes based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) complexes with NaAlOSiO molecular sieves powders has been prepared by solution casting technique. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimeter, and alternating current impedance techniques are employed to investigate the effect of NaAlOSiO molecular sieves on the crystallization mechanism of PEO in composite polymer electrolyte. The experimental results show that NaAlOSiO powders have great influence on the growth stage of PEO spherulites. PEO crystallization decrease and the amorphous region that the lithium-ion transport is expanded by adding appropriate NaAlOSiO, which leads to drastic enhancement in the ionic conductivity of the (PEO)₁₆LiClO₄ electrolyte. The ionic conductivity of (PEO)₁₆LiClO₄-12 wt.% NaAlOSiO achieves (2.370 ± 0.082) × 10⁻⁴ S · cm⁻¹ at room temperature (18 °C). Without NaAlOSiO, the ionic conductivity has only (8.382 ± 0.927) × 10⁻⁶ S · cm⁻¹, enhancing 2 orders of magnitude. Compared with inorganic oxide as filler, the addition of NaAlOSiO molecular sieves powders can disperse homogeneously in the electrolyte matrix without forming any crystal phase and the growth stage of PEO spherulites can be hindered more effectively.     

CP violation in gauge theories and the electric dipole moment of the neutron

A nonvanishing contribution to the neutron electric dipole moment in CP-violating gauge theories of the weak interactions, arising from interaction of the photon with two-quark subsystems of the three-bound-quark neutron system, is calculated. In the Kobayashi-Maskawa model the resulting value of the moment is estimated as O(10^?32) e cm; however, strong interaction corrections (gluonic radiative corrections) give quark moment contributions which may be numerically larger (possibly 10^?30±1 e cm). Either case clearly distinguishes gauge-sector CP violation from Higgs-sector CP violation which typically gives a neutron moment of order 10^?24 e cm.