arXiv subjects

S. Smale

Publications and source records attributed to S. Smale.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2017

Precision measurement of the $\beta$-asymmetry in spin-polarized $^{37}\mathrm{K}$ decay

Using TRIUMF's neutral atom trap, TRINAT, for nuclear $\beta$ decay, we have measured the $\beta$ asymmetry with respect to the initial nuclear spin in $^{37}\mathrm{K}$ to be $A_\beta=-0.5707(13)_\mathrm{syst}(13)_\mathrm{stat}(5)_\mathrm{pol}$, a 0.3% measurement. This is the best relative accuracy of any $\beta$-asymmetry measurement in a nucleus or the neutron, and is in agreement with the standard model prediction $-0.5706(7)$. We compare constraints on physics beyond the standard model with other $\beta$-decay measurements, and improve the value of $V_\mathrm{ud}$ measured in this mirror nucleus by a factor of 4.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2016

Observation of quantum-limited spin transport in strongly interacting two-dimensional Fermi gases

We measure the transport properties of two-dimensional ultracold Fermi gases during transverse demagnetization in a magnetic field gradient. Using a phase-coherent spin-echo sequence, we are able to distinguish bare spin diffusion from the Leggett-Rice effect, in which demagnetization is slowed by the precession of spin current around the local magnetization. When the two-dimensional scattering length is tuned to be comparable to the inverse Fermi wave vector $k_F^{-1}$, we find that the bare transverse spin diffusivity reaches a minimum of $1.7(6)\hbar/m$, where $m$ is the bare particle mass. The rate of demagnetization is also reflected in the growth rate of the s-wave contact, observed using time-resolved spectroscopy. At unitarity, the contact rises to $0.28(3) k_F^2$ per particle, measuring the breaking of scaling symmetry. Our observations support the conjecture that in systems with strong scattering, the local relaxation rate is bounded from above by $k_B T/\hbar$.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2015

Evidence for universal relations describing a gas with $p$-wave interactions

Thermodynamics provides powerful constraints on physical and chemical systems in equilibrium. However, non-equilibrium dynamics depends explicitly on microscopic properties, requiring an understanding beyond thermodynamics. Remarkably, in dilute gases, a set of universal relations is known to connect thermodynamics directly with microscopic properties. So far, these "contact" relations have been established only for interactions with $s$-wave symmetry, i.e., without relative angular momentum. We report measurements of two new physical quantities, the "$p$-wave contacts", and present evidence that they encode the universal aspects of $p$-wave interactions through recently proposed relations. Our experiments use an ultracold Fermi gas of $^{40}$K, in which $s$-wave interactions are suppressed by polarising the sample, while $p$-wave interactions are enhanced by working near a scattering resonance. Using time-resolved spectroscopy, we study how correlations in the system develop after "quenching" the atoms into an interacting state. Combining quasi-steady-state measurements with new contact relations, we infer an attractive $p$-wave interaction energy as large as half the Fermi energy. Our results reveal new ways to understand and characterise the properties of a resonant $p$-wave quantum gas.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2014

Observation of the Leggett-Rice effect in a unitary Fermi gas

We observe that the diffusive spin current in a strongly interacting degenerate Fermi gas of $^{40}$K precesses about the local magnetization. As predicted by Leggett and Rice, precession is observed both in the Ramsey phase of a spin-echo sequence, and in the nonlinearity of the magnetization decay. At unitarity, we measure a Leggett-Rice parameter $γ= 1.08(9)$ and a bare transverse spin diffusivity $D_0^\perp = 2.3(4)\,\hbar/m$ for a normal-state gas initialized with full polarization and at one fifth of the Fermi temperature, where $m$ is the atomic mass. One might expect $γ= 0$ at unitarity, where two-body scattering is purely dissipative. We observe $γ\rightarrow 0$ as temperature is increased towards the Fermi temperature, consistent with calculations that show the degenerate Fermi sea restores a non-zero $γ$. Tuning the scattering length $a$, we find that a sign change in $γ$ occurs in the range $0 < (k_F a)^{-1} \lesssim 1.3$, where $k_F$ is the Fermi momentum. We discuss how $γ$ reveals the effective interaction strength of the gas, such that the sign change in $γ$ indicates a switching of branch, between a repulsive and an attractive Fermi gas.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2014

Progress towards precision measurements of beta-decay correlation parameters using atom and ion traps

The correlations of the decay products following the beta decay of nuclei have a long history of providing a low-energy probe of the fundamental symmetries of our universe. Over half a century ago, the correlation of the electrons following the decay of polarized 60Co demonstrated that parity is not conserved in weak interactions. Today, the same basic idea continues to be applied to search for physics beyond the standard model: make precision measurements of correlation parameters and look for deviations compared to their standard model predictions. Efforts to measure these parameters to the 0.1% level utilizing atom and ion trapping techniques are described.

physics.ins-det↗