Isotope shifts in the $7S\rightarrow 8S$ transition of francium: measurements and comparison to ab-initio theory

ORAL

Abstract

The Standard Model can be tested at low energies by probing parity non-conservation (PNC) effects in atomic systems. At the francium trapping facility at TRIUMF, we are developing a Stark interference experiment to probe PNC in neutral francium atoms using the $7S\rightarrow 8S$ atomic transition. We have observed this transition in francium using two-photon spectroscopy. This allows the extraction of the isotope shifts of the $8S$ state. We have measured the shifts on five isotopes $^{208,209,210,211,213}$Fr of cold trapped atoms. Using our previously measured isotope shifts of the 7$P_{1/2}$ level we can extract the ratio of field shift constants and the relation between specific mass shift constants. The experimental results will be compared to recent ab-initio calculations.

*Funded by NSERC, NRC/TRIUMF, DOE, NSF, CONACYT, Australian Research Council and U. of Manitoba.

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Authors

  • Mukut Kalita

    • TRIUMF

  • John Behr

    • TRIUMF

  • Alexandre Gorelov

    • TRIUMF

  • Matthew Pearson

    • TRIUMF

  • Austin Dehart

    • U. of Manitoba

  • Gerald Gwinner

    • U. of Manitoba

  • Michael Kossin

    • U. of Manitoba

  • Seth Aubin

    • C. of William and Mary

  • Eduardo Gomez

    • Instituto de Fisica, UASLP

  • Luis A. Orozco

    • JQI, Physics, U. of Maryland and NIST

  • Vladimir Dzuba

    • School of Physics, U. of New South Wales

  • Victor Flambaum

    • School of Physics, U. of New South Wales

  • Marianna Safronova

    • U. of Delaware and JQI, U. of Maryland and NIST