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V. V. Flambaum

Publications and source records attributed to V. V. Flambaum.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
arXiv2012

Highly-charged ions as a basis of optical atomic clockwork of exceptional accuracy

We propose a novel class of atomic clocks based on highly charged ions. We consider highly-forbidden laser-accessible transitions within the $4f^{12}$ ground-state configurations of highly charged ions. Our evaluation of systematic effects demonstrates that these transitions may be used for building exceptionally accurate atomic clocks which may compete in accuracy with recently proposed nuclear clock.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2012

Narrow resonances and black-hole-like absorption in a non-black-hole metric

A massive body with the Schwarzschild interior metric (perfect fluid of constant density) develops a pressure singularity at the origin when the radius of the body $R$ approaches $9r_s/8$, where $r_s$ is the Schwarzschild radius. We show that a quantum scalar particle scattered in this gravitational field possesses a dense spectrum of narrow resonances. Their density and lifetimes tend to infinity in the limit $R\rightarrow 9r_s/8$, and we determine the cross section of the particle capture into these quasibound states. Therefore, a body that is not a black hole demonstrates black-hole-like absorption.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2012

Revisiting parity non-conservation in cesium

We apply the sum-over-states approach to calculate partial contributions to the parity non-conservation (PNC) in cesium [Porsev {\em et al}, Phys. Rev. D {\bf 82}, 036008 (2010)]. We have found significant corrections to two non-dominating terms coming from the contribution of the core and highly excited states ($n>9$, the so called {\em tail}). When these differences are taken into account the result of Porsev {\em et al}, $E_{\rm PNC} = 0.8906\,(24) \times 10^{-11}i(-Q_W/N)$ changes to $0.8977\,(40)$, coming into good agreement with our previous calculations, $0.8980\,(45)$. The interpretation of the PNC measurements in cesium still indicates reasonable agreement with the standard model ($1.5\,σ$), however gives new constraints on physics beyond it.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2012

Highly charged ions with E1, M1, and E2 transitions within laser range

Level crossings in the ground state of ions occur when the nuclear charge Z and ion charge Z_ion are varied along an isoelectronic sequence until the two outermost shells are nearly degenerate. We examine all available level crossings in the periodic table for both near neutral ions and highly charged ions (HCIs). Normal E1 transitions in HCIs are in X-ray range, however level crossings allow for optical electromagnetic transitions that could form the reference transition for high accuracy atomic clocks. Optical E1 (due to configuration mixing), M1 and E2 transitions are available in HCIs near level crossings. We present scaling laws for energies and amplitudes that allow us to make simple estimates of systematic effects of relevance to atomic clocks. HCI clocks could have some advantages over existing optical clocks because certain systematic effects are reduced, for example they can have much smaller thermal shifts. Other effects such as fine-structure and hyperfine splitting are much larger in HCIs, which can allow for richer spectra. HCIs are excellent candidates for probing variations in the fine-structure constant, alpha, in atomic systems as there are transitions with the highest sensitivity to alpha-variation.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2012

Screening and finite size corrections to the octupole and Schiff moments

Parity (P) and time reversal (T) violating nuclear forces create P, T -odd moments in expansion of the nuclear electrostatic potential. We derive expression for the nuclear electric octupole field which includes the electron screening correction (similar to the screening term in the Schiff moment). Then we calculate the Z alpha corrections to the Schiff moment which appear due to the finite nuclear size. Such corrections are important in heavy atoms with nuclear charge Z > 50. The Schiff and octupole moments induce atomic electric dipole moments (EDM) and P, T -odd interactions in molecules which are measured in numerous experiments to test CP-violation theories.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2012

A reanalysis of quasar absorption spectra results suggesting a spatial gradient in values of the fine-structure constant

We statistically analyse a recent sample of data points measuring the fine-structure constant alpha (relative to the terrestrial value) in quasar absorption systems. Using different statistical techniques, we find general agreement with previous authors that a dipole model is a well-justified fit to the data. We determine the significance of the dipole fit relative to that of a simple monopole fit, discuss the consistency of the interpretation, and test alternate models for potential variation of alpha against the data. Using a simple analysis we find that the monopole term (the constant offset in (delta alpha)/alpha) may be caused by non-terrestrial magnesium isotope abundances in the absorbers. Finally we test the domain-wall model against the data.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2012

Relativistic coupled-cluster single-double calculations of positron-atom bound states

Relativistic coupled-cluster single-double approximation is used to calculate positron-atom bound states. The method is tested on closed-shell atoms such as Be, Mg, Ca, Zn, Cd, and Hg where a number of accurate calculations is available. It is then used to calculate positron binding energies for a range of open-shell transition metal atoms from Sc to Cu, from Y to Pd, and from Lu to Pt. These systems possess Feshbach resonances, which can be used to search for positron-atom binding experimentally through resonant annihilation or scattering.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2012

Chaos-induced enhancement of resonant multielectron recombination in highly charged ions: Statistical theory

A statistical theory of resonant multielectron recombination based on properties of chaotic eigenstates is developed. The level density of many-body states increases exponentially with the number of excited electrons. When the residual electron-electron interaction exceeds the interval between these levels, the eigenstates (called compound states or compound resonances if these states are in the continuum) become "chaotic" superpositions of large numbers of Hartree-Fock configurational basis states. This situation takes place in some rare-earth atoms and many open-shell multiply charged ions excited in the process of electron recombination. Our theory describes resonant multielectron recombination via dielectronic doorway states leading to such compound resonances. The result is a radiative capture cross section averaged over a small energy interval containing several compound resonances. In many cases individual resonances are not resolved experimentally (since the interval between them is small, e.g., $\le 1$ meV, possibly even smaller than their radiative widths), therefore, our statistical theory should correctly describe the experimental data. We perform numerical calculations of the recombination cross sections for tungsten ions W$^{q+}$, $q=18$--25. The recombination rate for W$^{20+}$ measured recently [Phys. Rev. A {\bf 83}, 012711 (2011)] is $10^3$ greater than the direct radiative recombination rate at low energies, and our result for W$^{20+}$ agrees with the measurements.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2012

Optical transitions in highly-charged californium ions with high sensitivity to variation of the fine-structure constant

We study electronic transitions in highly-charged Cf ions that are within the frequency range of optical lasers and have very high sensitivity to potential variations in the fine-structure constant, alpha. The transitions are in the optical despite the large ionisation energies because they lie on the level-crossing of the 5f and 6p valence orbitals in the thallium isoelectronic sequence. Cf16+ is a particularly rich ion, having several narrow lines with properties that minimize certain systematic effects. Cf16+ has very large nuclear charge and large ionisation energy, resulting in the largest alpha-sensitivity seen in atomic systems. The lines include positive and negative shifters.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2012

Relativistic ab initio calculations of the P-odd interaction constant W_A in diatomic molecules

We present ab initio calculations of the $W_A$ parameter of the P-odd spin-rotational Hamiltonian for a variety of diatomic molecules, including the group--2 and --12 halides. The results were obtained by relativistic Dirac--Hartree--Fock and density functional theory approaches, and corrected for core polarization effects. Strong enhancement of $W_A$ is found for the group--12 diatomic halides, which should be helpful in future determination of the nuclear anapole moment.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2012

Comment on "Global Positioning System Test of the Local Position Invariance of Planck's Constant"

In their Letter, Kentosh and Mohageg [Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 110801 (2012)] seek to use data from clocks aboard global positioning system (GPS) satellites to place limits on local position invariance (LPI) violations of Planck's constant, h. It is the purpose of this comment to show that discussing limits on variation of dimensional constants (such as h) is not meaningful; that even within a correct framework it is not possible to extract limits on variation of fundamental constants from a single type of clock aboard GPS satellites; and to correct an important misconception in the authors' interpretation of previous Earth-based LPI experiments.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2012

Dense spectrum of resonances and particle capture in a near-black-hole metric

We show that a quantum scalar particle in the gravitational field of a massive body of radius R which slightly exceeds the Schwarzschild radius r_s, possesses a dense spectrum of narrow resonances. Their lifetimes and density tend to infinity in the limit R -> r_s. We determine the cross section of the particle capture into these resonances and show that it is equal to the absorption cross section for a Schwarzschild black hole. Thus, a non-singular static metric acquires black-hole properties before the actual formation of a black hole.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2012

Relations between matrix elements of different weak interactions and interpretation of the PNC and EDM measurements in atoms and molecules

The relations between matrix elements of different P- and T-odd weak interactions are derived. We demonstrate that similar relations hold for parity nonconserving (PNC) transition amplitudes and electron electric dipole moments (EDM) of atoms and molecules. This allows to express P- and T-odd effects in many-electron systems caused by different symmetry-breaking mechanisms via each other using simple analytical formulas. We use these relations for the interpretation of the anapole moment measurements in cesium and thallium and for the analysis of the relative contributions of the scalar-pseudoscalar CP-odd weak interaction and electron EDM to the EDM of Cs, Tl, Fr and other atoms and many polar molecules (YbF, PbO, ThO, etc.). Model-independent limits on electron EDM and the parameter of the scalar-pseudoscalar CP-odd interaction are found from the analysis of the EDM measurements for Tl and YbF.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2011

Extension of the Schiff theorem to ions and molecules

According to the Schiff theorem the nuclear electric dipole moment (EDM) is screened in neutral atoms. In ions this screening is incomplete. We extend a derivation of the Schiff theorem to ions and molecules. The finite nuclear size effects are considered including Z^2 alpha^2 corrections to the nuclear Schiff moment which are significant in all atoms and molecules of experimental interest. We show that in majority of ionized atoms the nuclear EDM contribution to the atomic EDM dominates while in molecules the contribution of the Schiff moment dominates. We also consider the screening of electron EDM in ions.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2011

Enhanced effect of temporal variation of the fine structure constant and strong interaction in 229Th

The relative effects of variation of the fine structure constant alpha=e^2/hc and dimensionless strong interaction parameter m_q/Lambda_{QCD} are enhanced 5-6 orders of magnitude in very narrow ultraviolet transition between the ground and first excited state in 229Th nucleus (energy (3.5 +/- 1) eV). Corresponding experiment has potential of improving sensitivity to the variation of the fundamental constants by 7-10 orders of magnitude (up to 10^{-23} per year).

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2011

Parity nonconservation in hyperfine transitions

We use relativistic Hartree-Fock and correlation potential methods to calculate nuclear spin-dependent parity non-conserving amplitudes (dominated by the nuclear anapole moment) between hyperfine structure components of the ground state of odd isotopes of K, Rb, Cs, Ba+, Yb+, Tl, Fr, and Ra+. The results are to be used for interpretation of current and future measurements.

physics.atom-ph↗
arXiv2011

Effect of alpha variation on the vibrational spectrum of Sr_2

We consider the effect of $α$ variation on the vibrational spectrum of Sr$_2$ in the context of a planned experiment to test the stability of $μ\equiv m_e/m_p$ using optically trapped Sr$_2$ molecules [Zelevinsky et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 100}, 043201; Kotochigova et al., Phys. Rev. A {\bf 79}, 012504]. We find the prospective experiment to be 3 to 4 times less sensitive to fractional variation in $α$ as it is to fractional variation in $μ$. Depending on the precision ultimately achieved by the experiment, this result may give justification for the neglect of $α$ variation or, alternatively, may call for its explicit consideration in the interpretation of experimental results.

physics.atom-ph↗