Abstract
The standard model of the unification of the weak and electromagnetic forces predicts a parity nonconserving (PNC) interaction between the electrons and nucleons in an atom. Because this interaction does not conserve parity, it mixes the S and P wave functions in the atom. The mixing is only ~1 part in 1011 and hence is rather difficult to observe. However, precise measurements of this mixing provide an important test of the standard model. Cesium is a particularly valuable atom to measure, because, being an alkali atom, the calculations of its structure are more tractable than for other many-electron atoms.
© 1989 Optical Society of America
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