Angular Correlations in the β Decay of B 8: First Tensor-Current Limits from a Mirror-Nucleus Pair

Authors

A. T. Gallant, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
N. D. Scielzo, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
G. Savard, The University of Chicago
J. A. Clark, Argonne National Laboratory
M. Brodeur, University of Notre Dame
F. Buchinger, Université McGill
D. P. Burdette, Argonne National Laboratory
M. T. Burkey, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
S. Caldwell, The University of Chicago
J. E. Crawford, Université McGill
A. Czeszumska, UC Berkeley’s Department of Nuclear Engineering
C. M. Deibel, Louisiana State University
J. Greene, Argonne National Laboratory
D. Heslop, University of Manitoba
T. Y. Hirsh, Soreq Nuclear Research Center
A. F. Levand, Argonne National Laboratory
B. Longfellow, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
G. E. Morgan, University of Manitoba
P. Mueller, Argonne National Laboratory
R. Orford, Argonne National Laboratory
S. Padgett, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
N. Paul, University of Notre Dame
A. Pérez Galván, Argonne National Laboratory
A. Reimer, University of Manitoba
R. Segel, Northwestern University
K. S. Sharma, University of Manitoba
K. Siegl, University of Notre Dame
L. Varriano, The University of Chicago
B. J. Zabransky, Argonne National Laboratory

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-12-2023

Abstract

We present the first measurement of the α-β-ν angular correlation in the Gamow-Teller β+ decay of B8. This was accomplished using the Beta-decay Paul Trap, expanding on our previous work on the β- decay of Li8. The B8 result is consistent with the V-A electroweak interaction of the standard model and, on its own, provides a limit on the exotic right-handed tensor current relative to the axial-vector current of |CT/CA|2< 0.013 at the 95.5% confidence level. This represents the first high-precision angular correlation measurements in mirror decays and was made possible through the use of an ion trap. By combining this B8 result with our previous Li8 results, we demonstrate a new pathway for increased precision in searches for exotic currents.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Physical Review Letters

Recommended Citation

Gallant, A., Scielzo, N., Savard, G., Clark, J., Brodeur, M., Buchinger, F., Burdette, D., Burkey, M., Caldwell, S., Crawford, J., Czeszumska, A., Deibel, C., Greene, J., Heslop, D., Hirsh, T., Levand, A., Longfellow, B., Morgan, G., Mueller, P., Orford, R., Padgett, S., Paul, N., Galván, A., Reimer, A., Segel, R., Sharma, K., Siegl, K., Varriano, L., & Zabransky, B. (2023). Angular Correlations in the β Decay of B 8: First Tensor-Current Limits from a Mirror-Nucleus Pair. Physical Review Letters, 130 (19) https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.192502