arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Victor V. Flambaum.
We present a possibility of direct resonance production of pionic atoms (Coulomb bound states of a negative pion and a nucleus) with a rate of up to $\sim10^{10}$ per second using the gamma-ray beams from the Gamma Factory.
We discuss the sensitivity of the present and near-future axion dark matter experiments to a halo of axions or axion-like particles gravitationally bound to the Earth or the Sun. The existence of such halos, assuming they are formed, renders a significant gain in the sensitivity of axion searches while satisfying all the present experimental bounds. The structure and coherence properties of these halos also imply novel signals, which can depend on the latitude or orientation of the detector. We demonstrate this by analysing the sensitivity of several distinct types of axion dark matter experiments.
Peik and Tamm [Europhys. Lett. 61, 181 (2003)] proposed a nuclear clock based on the isomeric transition between the ground state and the first excited state of thorium-229. This transition was recognized as a potentially sensitive probe of possible temporal variation of the fine-structure constant, $α$. The sensitivity to such a variation can be determined from measurements of the mean-square charge radius and quadrupole moment of the different isomers. However, current measurements of the quadrupole moment are yet to achieve an accuracy high enough to resolve non-zero sensitivity. Here we determine this sensitivity using existing measurements of the change in the mean-square charge radius, coupled with the ansatz of constant nuclear density. The enhancement factor for $α$ variation is $K = -(0.82 \pm 0.25) \times 10^4$. For the current experimental limit, $δα/α\lesssim 10^{-17}$ per year, the corresponding frequency shift is $\sim\!200$ Hz per year. This shift is six orders of magnitude larger than the projected accuracy of the nuclear clock, paving the way for increased accuracy of the determination of $δα$ and interaction strength with low-mass scalar dark matter. We verify that the constant-nuclear-density ansatz is supported by nuclear theory and propose how to verify it experimentally. We also consider a possible effect of the octupole deformation on the sensitivity to $α$ variation, and calculate the effects of $α$ variation in a number of Mössbauer transitions.
We advocate an idea that the Axion Quark Nuggets (AQN) hitting the Earth can be detected by analysing the infrasound, acoustic and seismic waves which always accompany the AQN's passage in the atmosphere and underground. Our estimates for the infrasonic frequency $ν\simeq 5$ ~Hz and overpressure $δp\sim 0.3 ~$Pa for relatively large size dark matter (DM) nuggets suggest that sensitivity of presently available instruments is already sufficient to detect very intense (but very rare) events today with existing technology. A study of much more frequent but less intense events requires a new type of instruments. We propose a detection strategy for a systematic study to search for such relatively weak and frequent events by using Distributed Acoustic Sensing and briefly mention other possible detection methods.
Measurements of nuclear spin-dependent parity-violating (NSD-PV) effects provide an excellent opportunity to test nuclear models and to search for physics beyond the Standard Model. Molecules possess closely-spaced states with opposite parity which may be easily tuned to degeneracy to greatly enhance the observed parity-violating effects. A high-sensitivity measurement of NSD-PV effects using light triatomic molecules is in preparation [E. B. Norrgard, et al., Commun. Phys. 2, 77 (2019)]. Importantly, by comparing these measurements in light nuclei with prior and ongoing measurements in heavier systems, the contribution to NSD-PV from $Z^0$-boson exchange between the electrons and the nuclei may be separated from the contribution of the nuclear anapole moment. Furthermore, light triatomic molecules offer the possibility to search for new particles, such as the postulated $Z^{\prime}$ boson. In this work, we detail a sensitive measurement scheme and present high-accuracy molecular and nuclear calculations needed for interpretation of NSD-PV experiments on triatomic molecules composed of light elements Be, Mg, N, and C. The ab initio nuclear structure calculations, performed within the No-Core Shell Model (NCSM) provide a reliable prediction of the magnitude of different contributions to the NSD-PV effects in the four nuclei. These results differ significantly from the predictions of the standard single-particle model and highlight the importance of including many-body effects in such calculations. In order to extract the NSD-PV contributions from measurements, a parity-violating interaction parameter $W_{\text{PV}}$, which depends on molecular structure, needs to be known with high accuracy. We have calculated these parameters for the triatomic molecules of interest using the relativistic coupled-cluster approach.
The Gamma Factory initiative proposes to develop novel research tools at CERN by producing, accelerating and storing highly relativistic, partially stripped ion beams in the SPS and LHC storage rings. By exciting the electronic degrees of freedom of the stored ions with lasers, high-energy narrow-band photon beams will be produced by properly collimating the secondary radiation that is peaked in the direction of ions' propagation. Their intensities, up to $10^{17}$ photons per second, will be several orders of magnitude higher than those of the presently operating light sources in the particularly interesting $γ$--ray energy domain reaching up to 400 MeV. This article reviews opportunities that may be afforded by utilizing the primary beams for spectroscopy of partially stripped ions circulating in the storage ring, as well as the atomic-physics opportunities afforded by the use of the secondary high-energy photon beams. The Gamma Factory will enable ground breaking experiments in spectroscopy and novel ways of testing fundamental symmetries of nature.
Precision spectroscopy of atoms and molecules allows one to search for and to put stringent limits on the variation of fundamental constants. These experiments are typically interpreted in terms of variations of the fine structure constant $α$ and the electron to proton mass ratio $μ=m_e/m_p$. Atomic spectroscopy is usually less sensitive to other fundamental constants, unless the hyperfine structure of atomic levels is studied. However, the number of possible dimensionless constants increases when we allow for fast variations of the constants, where "fast" is determined by the time scale of the response of the studied species or experimental apparatus used. In this case, the relevant dimensionless quantity is, for example, the ratio $m_e/\langle m_e \rangle$ and $\langle m_e \rangle$ is the time average. In this sense, one may say that the experimental signal depends on the variation of dimensionful constants ($m_e$ in this example).
We advocate an idea that the presence of the daily and annual modulations of the axion flux on the Earth surface may dramatically change the strategy of the axion searches. Our computations are based on the so-called Axion Quark Nugget (AQN) dark matter model which was originally put forward to explain the similarity of the dark and visible cosmological matter densities $Ω_{\rm dark}\sim Ω_{\rm visible}$. In our framework, the population of galactic axions with mass $ 10^{-6} {\rm eV}\lesssim m_a\lesssim 10^{-3}{\rm eV}$ and velocity $< v_a>\sim 10^{-3} c$ will be always accompanied by the axions with typical velocities $ \sim 0.6 c$ emitted by AQNs. We formulate the broadband detection strategy to search for such relativistic axions by studying the daily and annual modulations. We describe several tests which could effectively discriminate a true signal from noise. These AQN-originated axions can be observed as correlated events which could be recorded by synchronized stations in the global network. The correlations can be effectively studied if the detectors are positioned at distances shorter than a few hundred kilometres.
CP-violating interaction of the nuclear magnetic quadrupole moment (MQM) with electrons in the ytterbium mono-hydroxide molecule, $^{173}$YbOH, is considered. Both the magnetic quadrupole moment (MQM) of the $^{173}$Yb nucleus and the molecular interaction constant WM are estimated. Electron correlation effects are taken into account within the relativistic Fock-space coupled cluster method. Results are interpreted in terms of the strength constants of CP-violating nuclear forces, neutron EDM, QCD vacuum angle $θ$, quark EDM and chromo-EDM.
Interaction with the axion dark matter (DM) field generates an oscillating nuclear electric dipole moment (EDM) with a frequency corresponding to the axion's Compton frequency. Within an atom, an oscillating EDM can drive electric dipole transitions in the electronic shell. In the absence of radiation, and if the axion frequency matches a dipole transition, it can promote the electron into the excited state. The excitation events can be detected, for example, via subsequent uorescence or photoionization. Here we calculate the rates of such transitions. For a single light atom and an axion Compton frequency resonant with a transition energy corresponding to 1 eV, the rate is on the order of 10^(-22) per year, so a macroscopic atomic sample would be needed. A fundamental challenge is discriminating against background processes that may lead to the excitation of the same electric dipole transition. The ways to enhance the signals to potentially observable levels exceeding backgrounds and to search for axions in an extended frequency range are discussed.
Planning and interpretation of the experiments searching for the time reversal (T) and parity (P) violation in neutron reactions require values of the matrix elements of the T,P-violating nuclear forces between nuclear compound states. We calculate the root mean square values and the ratio of the matrix elements of the T,P-violating and P-violating interactions using statistical theory based on the properties of chaotic compound states and present the results in terms of the fundamental parameters in four different forms: in terms of the constants of the contact nuclear interaction, meson exchange constants, QCD theta-term and quark chromo-EDMs. Using current limits on these parameters, we obtain the upper bounds on the ratio of the matrix elements.
The exchange of spin-0 or spin-1 bosons between fermions or spin-polarised macroscopic objects gives rise to various spin-dependent potentials. We derive the coordinate-space non-relativistic potentials induced by the exchange of such bosons, including contact terms that can play an important role in atomic-scale phenomena, and correct for errors and omissions in the literature. We summarise the properties of the potentials and their relevance for various types of experiments. These potentials underpin the interpretation of experiments that search for new bosons, including spectroscopy, torsion-pendulum measurements, magnetometry, parity nonconservation and electric dipole moment experiments.
Astrophysics today faces a number of mysteries which defiant their resolutions in spite of drastic improvements in instrumental design, better technique being developed, and gradual improvements in theoretical and computation methods over last decades. Primordial Lithium Puzzle is known to stay with us for at least two decades, and it is very likely that its final resolution will require some fundamentally new ideas, novel frameworks and a non-conventional paradigms. We propose that Primordial Lithium Puzzle finds its natural resolution within the so-called Axion Quark Nugget (AQN) dark matter model. This model was invented long ago as a natural explanation of the observed ratio $Ω_{\rm dark} \sim Ω_{\rm visible}$ without any references to BBN physics. In this new paradigm, in contrast with conventional WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particle) framework the dark matter (DM) takes the form of the macroscopically large quark nuggets without requiring any new fields beyond the standard model physics, except for the axion. The time evolution of these AQNs in primordial soup at $T\sim 20$ KeV suggests a strong suppression of the abundances of nuclei with high charges $Z\geq 3$. This suppression mechanism represents the resolution of the primordial lithium abundance within AQN dark matter scenario.
Precise experimental setups for detection of variation of fundamental constants, scalar dark matter, or gravitational waves, such as laser interferometers, optical cavities and resonant-mass detectors, are directly linked to measuring changes in material size. Here we present calculated and experiment-derived estimates for both $α$- and $μ$-dependence of lattice constants and bond lengths of selected solid-state materials and diatomic molecules that are needed for interpretation of such experiments.
We calculate the spectrum and allowed E1 transitions of the superheavy element Og (Z=118). A combination of configuration interaction (CI) and perturbation theory (PT) is used (Dzuba \textit{et at.} Phys. Rev. A, \textbf{95}, 012503 (2017)). The spectrum of lighter analog Rn I is also calculated and compared to experiment with good agreement.
Collective effects in deformed atomic nuclei present possible avenues of study on the non-spherical distribution of neutrons and the violation of the local Lorentz invariance. We introduce the weak quadrupole moment of nuclei, related to the quadrupole distribution of the weak charge in the nucleus. The weak quadrupole moment produces tensor weak interaction between the nucleus and electrons and can be observed in atomic and molecular experiments measuring parity nonconservation. The dominating contribution to the weak quadrupole is given by the quadrupole moment of the neutron distribution, therefore, corresponding experiments should allow one to measure the neutron quadrupoles. Using the deformed oscillator model and the Schmidt model we calculate the quadrupole distributions of neutrons, $Q_{n}$, the weak quadrupole moments ,$Q_{W}^{(2)}$, and the Lorentz Innvariance violating energy shifts in $^{9}$Be, $^{21}$Ne , $^{27}$Al, $^{131}$Xe, $^{133}$Cs, $^{151}$Eu, $^{153}$Eu, $^{163}$Dy, $^{167}$Er, $^{173}$Yb, $^{177}$Hf, $^{179}$Hf, $^{181}$Ta, $^{201}$Hg and $^{229}$Th.
We present high accuracy relativistic coupled cluster calculations of the P-odd interaction coefficient $W_A$ describing the nuclear anapole moment effect on the molecular electronic structure. The molecule under study, BaF, is considered a promising candidate for the measurement of the nuclear anapole moment, and the preparation for the experiment is now underway [Altunas et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 142501 (2018)]. Influence of various computational parameters (size of the basis set, treatment of relativistic effects, and treatment of electron correlation) on the calculated $W_A$ coefficient is investigated and a recommended value of 147.7 Hz with an estimated uncertainty of 1.5% is proposed.
The Maxwell-Proca electrodynamics corresponding to a finite photon mass causes a substantial change of the Maxwell stress tensor and, under certain circumstances, may cause the electromagnetic stresses to act effectively as "negative pressure." The paper describes a model where this negative pressure imitates gravitational pull and may produce forces comparable to gravity and even become dominant. The effect is associated with the random magnetic fields in the galactic disk with a scale exceeding the photon Compton wavelength. The presence of a weaker regular field does not affect the forces under consideration. The stresses act predominantly on the interstellar gas and cause an additional force pulling the gas towards the center and towards the galactic plane. The stars do not experience any significant direct force but get involved in this process via a "recycling loop" where rapidly evolving massive stars are formed from the gas undergoing galactic rotation and then lose their masses back to the gas within a time shorter than roughly 1/6 of the rotation period. This makes their dynamics inseparable from that of the rotating gas. The lighter, slowly evolving stars, as soon as they are formed, lose connection to the gas and are confined within the galaxy only gravitationally. Numerical examples based on the parameters of our galaxy reveal both opportunities and challenges of this model and motivate further analysis. The critical issue is the plausibility of formation of the irregular magnetic field that would be force free. Another challenge is developing a predictive model of the evolution of the gaseous and stellar population of the galaxy under the aforementioned scenario. It may be interesting to also explore possible broader cosmological implications of the negative-pressure model.