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V. V. Flambaum

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

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

Resonance reactions and enhancement of weak interactions in collisions of cold molecules

With the creation of ultracold atoms and molecules, a new type of chemistry - "resonance" chemistry - emerges: chemical reactions can occur when the energy of colliding atoms and molecules matches a bound state of the combined molecule (Feshbach resonance). This chemistry is rather similar to reactions that take place in nuclei at low energies. In this paper we suggest some problems for future experimental and theoretical work related to the resonance chemistry of ultracold molecules. Molecular Bose-Einstein condensates are particularly interesting because in this system collisions and chemical reactions are extremely sensitive to weak fields; also, a preferred reaction channel may be enhanced due to a finite number of final states. The sensitivity to weak fields arises due to the high density of narrow compound resonances and the macroscopic number of molecules with kinetic energy E=0 (in the ground state of a mean-field potential). The high sensitivity to the magnetic field may be used to measure the distribution of energy intervals, widths, and magnetic moments of compound resonances and study the onset of quantum chaos. A difference in the production rate of right-handed and left-handed chiral molecules may be produced by external electric and magnetic fields and the finite width of the resonance. The same effect may be produced by the parity-violating energy difference in chiral molecules.

cond-mat.other↗

Frequency shift of hyperfine transitions due to blackbody radiation

We have performed calculations of the size of the frequency shift induced by a static electric field on the clock transition frequencies of the hyperfine splitting in Yb+, Rb, Cs, Ba+, and Hg+. The calculations are used to find the frequency shifts due to blackbody radiation which are needed for accurate frequency measurements and improvements of the limits on variation of the fine structure constant, alpha. Our result for Cs (delta nu E^2=-2.26 times 10^{-10}Hz/(V/m)^2) is in good agreement with early measurements and ab initio calculations. We present arguments against recent claims that the actual value might be smaller. The difference (approx 10%) is due to the contribution of the continuum spectrum in the sum over intermediate states.

physics.atom-ph↗

Frequency shift of cesium clock transition due to blackbody radiation

We have performed ab initio calculations of the frequency shift induced by a static electric field on the cesium clock hyperfine transition. The calculations are used to find the frequency shifts due to blackbody radiation. Our result ($δν/E^2=-2.26(2)\times 10^{-10}$Hz/(V/m)$^2$) is in good agreement with early measurements and ab initio calculations performed in other groups. We present arguments against recent claims that the actual value of the effect might be smaller. The difference ($\sim$ 10%) between ab initio and semiempirical calculations is due to the contribution of the continuum spectrum to the sum over intermediate states.

physics.atom-ph↗

Enhancement of variation of fundamental constants in ultracold atom and molecule systems near Feshbach resonances

Scattering length, which can be measured in Bose-Einstein condensate and Feshbach molecule experiments, is extremely sensitive to the variation of fundamental constants, in particular, the electron-to-proton mass ratio (m_e/m_p or m_e/Lambda_{QCD}, where Lambda_{QCD} is the QCD scale). Based on single- and two-channel scattering model, we show how the variation of the mass ratio propagates to the scattering length. Our results suggest that variation of m_e/m_p on the level of 10^{-11}~10^{-14} can be detected near a narrow magnetic or an optical Feshbach resonance by monitoring the scattering length on the 1% level. Derived formulae may also be used to estimate the isotopic shift of the scattering length.

cond-mat.other↗

Laboratory spectroscopy and the search for space-time variation of the fine structure constant using QSO spectra

Theories unifying gravity with other interactions suggest spatial and temporal variation of fundamental ``constants'' in the Universe. A change in the fine structure constant, alpha, could be detected via shifts in the frequencies of atomic transitions in quasar absorption systems. Previous studies of three independent samples of data, containing 143 absorption systems spread from 2 to 10 billion years after big bang, hint that alpha was smaller 7 - 11 billion years ago. To continue this study we urgently need accurate laboratory measurements of atomic transition frequencies. In this paper, we present a current list of transitions of importance to the search for alpha variation. They are E1 transitions to the ground state in several different atoms and ions, with wavelengths ranging from around 900 - 6000 Angstroms, and require an accuracy of better than 10^(-4) Angstroms. We also discuss isotope shift measurements that are needed in order to resolve systematic effects in the study. Researchers who are interested in performing these measurements should contact the authors directly.

physics.atom-ph↗

Dependence of nuclear magnetic moments on quark masses and limits on temporal variation of fundamental constants from atomic clock experiments

We calculate the dependence of the nuclear magnetic moments on the quark masses including the spin-spin interaction effects and obtain limits on the variation of the fine structure constant $α$ and $(m_q/Λ_{QCD})$ using recent atomic clock experiments examining hyperfine transitions in H, Rb, Cs, Yb$^+$ and Hg$^+$ and the optical transition in H, Hg$^+$ and Yb$^+$ .

nucl-th↗

Nuclear Schiff moment in nuclei with soft octupole and quadrupole vibrations

Nuclear forces violating parity and time reversal invariance (${\cal P},{\cal T}$-odd) produce ${\cal P},{\cal T}$-odd nuclear moments, for example, the nuclear Schiff moment. In turn, this moment can induce the electric dipole moment in the atom. The nuclear Schiff moment is predicted to be enhanced in nuclei with static quadrupole and octupole deformation. The analogous suggestion of the enhanced contribution to the Schiff moment from the soft collective quadrupole and octupole vibrations in spherical nuclei is tested in this article in the framework of the quasiparticle random phase approximation with separable quadrupole and octupole forces applied to the odd $^{217-221}$Ra and $^{217-221}$Rn isotopes. We confirm the existence of the enhancement effect due to the soft modes. However, in the standard approximation the enhancement is strongly reduced by a small weight of the corresponding "particle + phonon" component in a complicated wave function of a soft nucleus. The perspectives of a better description of the structure of heavy soft nuclei are discussed.

nucl-th↗

Possible evidence for "dark radiation" from Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Data

We address the emerging discrepancy between the Big Bang Nucleosynthesis data and standard cosmology, which asks for a bit longer evolution time. If this effect is real, one possible implication (in a framework of brane cosmology model) is that there is a ``dark radiation'' component which is negative and makes few percents of ordinary matter density. If so, all scales of this model can be fixed, provided brane-to-bulk leakage problem is solved.

hep-th↗

Coulomb problem for vector bosons

The Coulomb problem for vector bosons W incorporates a well known difficulty; the charge of the boson localized in a close vicinity of the attractive Coulomb center proves be infinite. This fact contradicts the renormalizability of the Standard Model, which presumes that at small distances all physical quantities are well defined. The paradox is shown to be resolved by the QED vacuum polarization, which brings in a strong effective repulsion that eradicates the infinite charge of the boson on the Coulomb center. This property allows to define the Coulomb problem for vector bosons properly, making it consistent with the Standard Model.

hep-th↗

Breit Interaction and Parity Non-conservation in Many-Electron Atoms

We present accurate {\em ab initio} non-perturbative calculations of the Breit correction to the parity non-conserving (PNC) amplitudes of the $6s-7s$ and $6s-5d_{3/2}$ transitions in Cs, $7s-8s$ and $7s-6d_{3/2}$ transitions in Fr, $6s-5d_{3/2}$ transition in Ba$^+$, $7s-6d_{3/2}$ transition in Ra$^+$, and $6p_{1/2} - 6p_{3/2}$ transition in Tl. The results for the $6s-7s$ transition in Cs and $7s-8s$ transition in Fr are in good agreement with other calculations while calculations for other atoms/transitions are presented for the first time. We demonstrate that higher-orders many-body corrections to the Breit interaction are especially important for the $s-d$ PNC amplitudes. We confirm good agreement of the PNC measurements for cesium and thallium with the standard model .

physics.atom-ph↗

Sigma Terms of Light-Quark Hadrons

A calculation of the current-quark mass dependence of hadron masses can help in using observational data to place constraints on the variation of nature's fundamental parameters. A hadron's sigma-term is a measure of this dependence. The connection between a hadron's sigma-term and the Feynman-Hellmann theorem is illustrated with an explicit calculation for the pion using a rainbow-ladder truncation of the Dyson-Schwinger equations: in the vicinity of the chiral limit sigma_pi = m_pi/2. This truncation also provides a decent estimate of sigma_rho because the two dominant self-energy corrections to the rho-meson's mass largely cancel in their contribution to sigma_rho. The truncation is less accurate for the omega, however, because there is little to compete with an omega->rho+pi self-energy contribution that magnifies the value of sigma_omega by ~25%. A Poincare' covariant Faddeev equation, which describes baryons as composites of confined-quarks and -nonpointlike-diquarks, is solved to obtain the current-quark mass dependence of the masses of the nucleon and Delta, and thereby sigma_N and sigma_Delta. This "quark-core" piece is augmented by the "pion cloud" contribution, which is positive. The analysis yields sigma_N~60MeV and sigma_Delta~50MeV.

nucl-th↗

A New Option for a Search for Alpha Variation: Narrow Transitions with Enhanced Sensitivity

We consider several transitions between narrow lines that have an enhanced sensitivity to a possible variation of the fine structure constant, alpha. This enhancement may allow a search to be performed with an effective suppression of the systematic sources of uncertainty that are unavoidable in conventional high-resolution spectroscopic measurements. In the future this may provide the strongest laboratory constraints on alpha variation.

physics.atom-ph↗

Coulomb problem for vector bosons versus Standard Model

The Coulomb problem for vector bosons W(+/-) propagating in an attractive Coulomb field incorporates a known difficulty, i.e. the total charge of the boson localized on the Coulomb center turns out infinite. This fact contradicts the renormalizability of the Standard model, which presumes that at small distances all physical quantities are well defined. The paradox is shown to be resolved by the QED vacuum polarization, which brings in a strong effective repulsion and eradicates the infinite charge of the boson on the Coulomb center. The effect makes the Coulomb problem for vector bosons well defined and consistent with the Standard Model.

hep-th↗

Fine Structure Anomalies and Search for Variation of the Fine Structure Constant in Laboratory Experiments

Configuration interaction in many-electron atoms may cause anomalies in the fine structure which make the intervals small and very sensitive to variation of the fine structure constant. Repeated precision measurements of these intervals over long period of time can put strong constrain on possible time variation of the fine structure constant. We consider the $5p^4 \ ^3$P$_{2,1,0}$ fine structure multiplet in the ground state of neutral tellurium as an example. Here the effect of change of the fine structure constant is enhanced about one hundred times in the relative change of the small energy interval between the $^3$P$_1$ and $^3$P$_0$ states.

physics.atom-ph↗

Calculation of isotope shifts and relativistic shifts in CI, CII, CIII and CIV

We present an accurate ab initio method of calculating isotope shifts and relativistic shifts in atomic spectra. We test the method on neutral carbon and three carbon ions. The relativistic shift of carbon lines may allow them to be included in analyses of quasar absorption spectra that seek to measure possible variations in the fine structure constant, alpha, over the lifetime of the Universe. Carbon isotope shifts can be used to measure isotope abundances in gas clouds: isotope abundances are potentially an important source of systematic error in the alpha-variation studies. These abundances are also needed to study nuclear reactions in stars and supernovae, and test models of chemical evolution of the Universe.

physics.atom-ph↗

Parity nonconservation in Atomic Zeeman Transitions

We discuss the possibility of measuring nuclear anapole moments in atomic Zeeman transitions and perform the necessary calculations. Advantages of using Zeeman transitions include variable transition frequencies and the possibility of enhancement of parity nonconservation effects.

physics.atom-ph↗

Limits on variations in fundamental constants from 21-cm and ultraviolet quasar absorption lines

Quasar absorption spectra at 21-cm and UV rest-wavelengths are used to estimate the time variation of x=alpha^2 g_p mu, where alpha is the fine structure constant, g_p the proton g factor, and m_e/m_p=mu the electron/proton mass ratio. Over a redshift range 0.24 ~< z_abs ~< 2.04, _total_weighted=(1.17+-1.01) x 10^-5. A linear fit gives d/dt{x}/x=(-1.43+-1.27) x 10^-15 yr^-1. Two previous results on varying alpha yield the strong limits Delta mu/mu=(2.31+-1.03) x 10^-5 and Delta mu/mu=(1.29+-1.01) x 10^-5. Our sample, 8x larger than any previous, provides the first direct estimate of the intrinsic 21-cm and UV velocity differences ~6 km s^-1.

astro-ph↗