Testing isospin symmetry breaking in <i>ab initio</i> nuclear theory
M. S. Martin, S. R. Stroberg, J. D. Holt, K. G. Leach
Abstract
Superallowed $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay, resulting when near-exact isospin symmetry exists between the initial and final nuclei, is an important test of the Standard Model. Understanding the minute breaking of isospin in such nuclei is thus crucially important. The authors calculate signatures of isospin breaking in all relevant superallowed systems, starting from underlying two- and three-nucleon forces. While their results agree with experiment, simpler phenomenological models reproduce these effects more accurately, showing that work remains to be done.
Topics & Concepts
IsospinPhysicsSymmetry breakingSymmetry (geometry)Particle physicsTheoretical physicsSpontaneous symmetry breakingNucleonNuclear physicsMathematicsGeometryNuclear physics research studiesNuclear reactor physics and engineeringNuclear Physics and Applications