Atomic Parity Violation: Standard Model Tests

Abstract

Atomic parity violation (APV) offers a sensitive high-precision, low-energy test of the Standard Model and a powerful probe of new physics. It played a significant role in confirming the nature of the neutral weak currents, and gives unique information about fundamental weak parameters and possible new physics, reaching energies well into the TeV scale and beyond. In this chapter, we provide a pedagogical introduction to the fascinating field of APV. The underlying mechanisms are introduced, an overview of past and ongoing experiments is presented, including prospects for measuring parity violation in molecules, and the critical role of electronic structure theory in interpreting the experiments is described. The importance of the nuclear anapole moment and other nuclear-spin-dependent parity-violating contributions for understanding nuclear structure and weak nuclear forces is highlighted. We discuss the current challenges and identify the most important and pressing goals in this field, which promises exciting discoveries in the coming years.