Mar 12, 2013
Effects of Space-time Variation of Fundamental Constants and Violation of Parity and Time-reversal in Molecules
Victor Flambaum (New South Wales)
This talk covers three different topics:
- New
results for variation of the fine structure
constant alpha based on the quasar absorption spectra data indicate the
variation of alpha in space. The spatial variation can explain
fine tuning of the fundamental constants which allows humans
(and any life) to appear. We appeared in the area of the Universe where
the values of the fundamental constants are consistent with our
existence. There is an agreement between the results obtained
using different telescopes and different redshifts.
These astrophysical results may be used
to predict the variation effects in molecules where they are
significantly enhanced.
- Molecular experiments can also
be used to detect nuclear anapole moment - magnetic multipole
which violates fundamental symmetries: parity (P) and charge conjugation
(C). These measurements will give us unknown strength of parity
violating nuclear forces and may provide new test of the Standard
model.
- Measurements of time-reversal violating interactions and
electric dipole moments (EDM) in molecular experiments present a
possibility to search for physics beyond the Standard model. We explain
different mechanisms generating atomic EDM and present results of recent
measurements testing models of CP violation. New generation of
experiments with enhanced effects will put popular models (e.g.
supersymmetry) to crucial test.
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