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arXiv · 2206.00742

$\beta$-nuclear-recoil correlation from $^6$He decay in a laser trap

Abstract

We report the first precise measurement of a $\beta$-recoil correlation from a radioactive noble gas ($^6{\rm He}$) 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: $|C_T/C_A|^2\le 0.022$ (90\% 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 micro-channel plate used for recoil ion detection.

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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, D. W. Zumwalt. 2022-06-01. $\beta$-nuclear-recoil correlation from $^6$He decay in a laser trap. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.129.182502

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