Parity Violation and Time Reversal Invariance

Abstract

Tests of discrete symmetries have played an important role in the development of modern day particle physics. Experiments in atomic physics are capable of significant tests of these symmetries in the low energy domain because of the very high sensitivity that is possible. The field continues to be an active one and new developments and techniques offer the prospect of yet higher precision. For example, in 1974 when Bouchiat and Bouchiat suggested detection of parity violation in heavy atoms was possible, it seemed a formidable undertaking. Now, twenty years later, parity violation can be seen in atomic experiments within a few minutes and measurements accurate to 1% or so have recently been reported (Meekhof et al., 1993).KeywordsRadiative CorrectionAtomic BeamParity ViolationFaraday EffectAtomic CalculationThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.