Engineering the sensitivity of macroscopic physical systems to variations in the fine-structure constant

Experiments aimed at searching for variations in the fine-structure constant α are based on spectroscopy of transitions in microscopic bound systems, such as atoms and ions, or resonances in optical cavities. The sensitivities of these systems to variations in α are typically on the order of unity and are fixed for a given system. For heavy atoms, highly charged ions and nuclear transitions, the sensitivity can be increased by benefiting from the relativistic effects and favorable arrangement of quantum states. This article proposes a new method for controlling the sensitivity factor of macroscopic physical systems. Specific concepts of optical cavities with tunable sensitivity to α are described. These systems show qualitatively different properties from those of previous studies of the sensitivity of macroscopic systems to variations in α, in which the sensitivity was found to be fixed and fundamentally limited to an order of unity. Although possible experimental constraints attainable with the specific optical cavity arrangements proposed in this article do not yet exceed the present best constraints on α variations, this work paves the way for developing new approaches to searching for variations in the fundamental constants of physics.

Axionlike particles searches in reactor experiments

Reactor neutrino experiments provide a rich environment for the study of axionlike particles (ALPs). Using the intense photon flux produced in the nuclear reactor core, these experiments have the potential to probe ALPs with masses below 10 MeV. We explore the feasibility of these searches by considering ALPs produced through Primakoff and Compton-like processes as well as nuclear transitions. These particles can subsequently interact with the material of a nearby detector via inverse Primakoff and inverse Compton-like scatterings, via axio-electric absorption, or they can decay into photon or electron-positron pairs. We demonstrate that reactor-based neutrino experiments have a high potential to test ALP-photon couplings and masses, currently probed only by cosmological and astrophysical observations, thus providing complementary laboratory-based searches. We furthermore show how reactor facilities will be able to test previously unexplored regions in the ∼MeV ALP mass range and ALP-electron couplings of the order of gaee ∼ 10−8 as well as ALP-nucleon couplings of the order of $$ {g}_{ann}^{(1)} $$ g ann 1 ∼ 10−9, testing regions beyond TEXONO and Borexino limits.

Hunting down the X17 boson at the CERN SPS

Recently, the ATOMKI experiment has reported new evidence for the excess of $$e^+e^-$$ e + e - events with a mass $$\sim $$ ∼ 17 MeV in the nuclear transitions of $$^4$$ 4 He, that they previously observed in measurements with $$^8$$ 8 Be. These observations could be explained by the existence of a new vector $$X17$$ X 17 boson. So far, the search for the decay $$X17 \rightarrow e^+ e^-$$ X 17 → e + e - with the NA64 experiment at the CERN SPS gave negative results. Here, we present a new technique that could be implemented in NA64 aiming to improve the sensitivity and to cover the remaining $$X17$$ X 17 parameter space. If a signal-like event is detected, an unambiguous observation is achieved by reconstructing the invariant mass of the $$X17$$ X 17 decay with the proposed method. To reach this goal an optimization of the $$X17$$ X 17 production target, as well as an efficient and accurate reconstruction of two close decay tracks, is required. A dedicated analysis of the available experimental data making use of the trackers information is presented. This method provides independent confirmation of the NA64 published results [1], validating the tracking procedure. The detailed Monte Carlo study of the proposed setup and the background estimate show that the goal of the proposed search is feasible.

Tests of Pauli exclusion principle violations from noncommutative quantum gravity

We review the main recent progresses in noncommutative space–time phenomenology in underground experiments. A popular model of noncommutative space–time is [Formula: see text]-Poincaré model, based on the Groenewold–Moyal plane algebra. This model predicts a violation of the spin-statistic theorem, in turn implying an energy and angular dependent violation of the Pauli exclusion principle. Pauli exclusion principle violating transitions in nuclear and atomic systems can be tested with very high accuracy in underground laboratory experiments such as DAMA/LIBRA and VIP(2). In this paper we derive that the [Formula: see text]-Poincaré model can be already ruled-out until the Planck scale, from nuclear transitions tests by DAMA/LIBRA experiment.

Lise Meitner, β-decay and non-radiative electromagnetic transitions

The current activities in detecting neutrinos as carriers of information from far out in our Universe prompt us to look back on the research activities a century ago that led to the discovery of these weakly interacting particles. One of the leading researchers was Lise Meitner, who observed electrons with well-defined energy, besides the continuous energy spectrum emitted in β decay. These electron lines are well understood as radiationless nuclear transitions competing with γ-ray emission. It is proposed to name the electrons resulting out of this so-called internal conversion process after Lise Meitner and Charles D. Ellis. The equivalent process within the electronic (atomic) shell is the Auger effect , competing with X-ray emission. In this context, the radioactive decay of UX1 or 234 Th, well studied a century ago by Lise Meitner and Charles Ellis, is re-visited, and the mono-energetic electrons are ascribed entirely to the internal conversion process.

Anomalous internal pair creation

In recent electron-positron angular correlation measurements the observed significant enhancements relative to the internal pair creation at large angles was interpreted as indication of the creation of $$J^{\pi }=1^{+}$$ J π = 1 + boson called X17 particle. In this paper it is brought up that such enhancements can be generated by higher order processes. It is found that nuclear transitions, the transition energy of which is significantly lower than the whole transition energy, can cause peaked angle dependence in electron-positron angular correlation.