$\ensuremath{\beta}$-Nuclear-Recoil Correlation from $^{6}\mathrm{He}$ Decay in a Laser Trap

$β$ -Nuclear-Recoil Correlation from ${}^{6}{He}$ Decay in a Laser Trap

P. Müller, Y. Bagdasarova, R. Hong, A. Leredde, K. G. Bailey, X. Fléchard, A. García, B. Graner, A. Knecht, O. Naviliat-Cuncic, T. P. O’Connor, M. G. Sternberg, D. W. Storm, H. E. Swanson, F. Wauters, and D. W. Zumwalt

Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 182502 – Published 28 October 2022

Abstract

We report the first precise measurement of a $β$ -recoil correlation from a radioactive noble gas ( ${}^{6}{He}$ ) confined via a magneto-optical trap. The measurement is motivated by the search for exotic tensor-type contributions to the charged weak current. Interpreted as tensor currents with right-handed neutrinos, the measurements yield $| C_{T} / C_{A} |^{2} \leq 0.022$ (90% confidence limit, C.L.). On the other hand, for left-handed neutrinos the limits are $0.007 < C_{T} / C_{A} < 0.111$ (90% C.L.). The sensitivity of the present measurement is mainly limited by experimental uncertainties in determining the time response properties and the distance between the atom cloud and the microchannel plate used for recoil ion detection.

Received 17 January 2022
Revised 12 May 2022
Accepted 1 June 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.182502

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Atom & ion cooling Beta decay Nuclear tests of fundamental interactions

Nuclear Physics

Authors & Affiliations

P. Müller ¹, Y. Bagdasarova², R. Hong ², A. Leredde¹, K. G. Bailey¹, X. Fléchard³, A. García ², B. Graner², A. Knecht ^2,4, O. Naviliat-Cuncic ^3,5, T. P. O’Connor¹, M. G. Sternberg ², D. W. Storm², H. E. Swanson ², F. Wauters ^2,6, and D. W. Zumwalt²

¹Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, USA
²Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
³Normandie Univ, ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CNRS/IN2P3, LPC Caen, 14000 Caen, France
⁴Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
⁵National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
⁶Institut für Kernphysik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany