Search

Discrete symmetries tested in high precision atomic physics experiments provide guidance to model building beyond the Standard Model (SM). Here experimental opportunities arise for searches for permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) and measurements of atomic parity violation (APV). Heavy atoms are favorable for such experiments since symmetry violating effects in atoms increase faster than the third power of the nuclear charge Z. Of special interest are isotopes of the heavy alkaline earth element radium (Z=88) since they offer large enhancement factors for EDMs and provide a new experimental road towards high precision measurements of atomic parity violation. These opportunities are exploited at the TRI μP facility at KVI, Groningen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lifetime of the metastable 5d D state has been measured for a single trapped Ba ion in a Paul trap in Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) in the 10 mbar pressure range. A total of 5046 individual periods when the ion was shelved in this state have been recorded. A preliminary value $\tau _{D_{5/2}} = 26.4(1.7)$ s is obtained through extrapolation to zero residual gas pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]