Precision measurement of the nuclear polarization in laser-cooled, optically pumped \(^{37}\mathrm{K}\)

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Fenker, Benjamin, Behr, John A, Melconian, Dan, Anderson, Rhys M A, Anholm, Melissa, Ashery, Daniel, Behling, Richard S, Cohen, Iuliana, Craiciu, Ioana, Donohue, John M, Farfan, Christian, Friesen, Daniel, Gorelov, Alexandre, McNeil, James, Mehlman, Michael, Norton, Heather, Olchanski, Konstantin, Smale, Scott, Theriault, O, Vantyghem, Adrian N, Warner, Claire L
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 14.02.2016
• Subjects: Angular correlation; Beta decay; Correlation analysis; Laser cooling; Optical pumping; Parameters; Photoionization; Polarization; Population (statistical); Population distribution; Signal to noise ratio; Uncertainty
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1602.04526

We report a measurement of the nuclear polarization of laser-cooled, optically-pumped \(^{37}\mathrm{K}\) atoms which will allow us to precisely measure angular correlation parameters in the beta-decay of the same atoms. These results will be used to test the \(V-A\) framework of the weak interaction at high precision. At the TRIUMF Neutral Atom Trap (TRINAT), a magneto-optical trap (MOT) confines and cools neutral \(^{37}\mathrm{K}\) atoms and optical pumping spin-polarizes them. We monitor the nuclear polarization of the same atoms that are decaying in situ by photoionizing a small fraction of the partially polarized atoms and then use the standard optical Bloch equations to model their population distribution. We obtain an average nuclear polarization of \(P = 0.9913\pm0.0008\), which is significantly more precise than previous measurements with this technique. Since our current measurement of the beta-asymmetry has \(0.2\%\) statistical uncertainty, the polarization measurement reported here will not limit its overall uncertainty. This result also demonstrates the capability to measure the polarization to \(<0.1\%\), allowing for a measurement of angular correlation parameters to this level of precision, which would be competitive in searches for new physics.