Parity nonconservation in atoms; past work and trapped atom future

Abstract

Parity nonconservation has now been measured in atomic cesium with a fractional uncertainty of 2%. This was done by observing the 6S–7S laser excited transition rate in a “handed” apparatus. When combined with recent precise calculations of the cesium atomic structure, this provides an important test of the Standard Model. Efforts are under way to achieve a more sensitive test by measuring parity nonconservation in a series of radioactive cesium isotopes which have been trapped using laser light.