Parity-violating optical rotation induced by the neutral weak-current interaction has been detected and measured for the first time in atomic thallium vapour. Accurate atomic calculations predicting the size of the rotation are available for this element; thallium also benefits from the Z3 enhancement of the effect. The magnetic-dipole transition 6p1/2-6p3/2 at 1.283 μm was excited using a single-mode semiconductor laser and the small optical rotation was measured using a sensitive polarimeter. The result, expressed in terms of the quantity R = Im E1p.v./M1, is - 12.5(19)10-8 and is consistent with recent calculations based on the standard model.
Spin of the Tl nucleus is 1/2.
We report a new measurement of parity nonconserving (PNC) optical rotation on the 6p1/2- 6p3/2 transition in atomic thallium near 1283 nm. The result expressed in terms of the quantity R=Im{E1PNC/M1} is −(15.68±0.45)×10−8, and is consistent with current calculations based on the standard model. In addition, limits have been set on the much smaller nuclear spin-dependent rotation amplitude at RS=(0.04±0.20)×10−8; this is consistent with theoretical estimates which include a nuclear anapole contribution.
Spin of the Tl nucleus is 1/2.
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