Speaker
Description
The nature of dark matter, and the origin of the matter-antimatter imbalance of the universe, are intriguing open questions in high-energy physics and cosmology. The breakdown of time-reversal symmetry (T) at ultra-high energy scales is believed to underlie one or both of these puzzles. However, these energy scales lie far above the reach of particle colliders. Fortunately, we can probe the breakdown of T-symmetry at such extreme energy scales using precision measurements of nuclei and atoms. In my lab, we study 153Eu, whose nuclear shape is highly sensitive to T-violation caused by physics outside the Standard Model. The response of the nucleus is further enhanced through electron-nuclear interactions in Eu3+ ions in a crystal. All of this results in characteristic energy shifts between hyperfine states that can be measured using precision radio and optical spectroscopy. I will present a gentle introduction to this program of research, and discuss my group's T-violation search experiments.
| Keyword-1 | beyond-Standard-Model physics |
|---|---|
| Keyword-2 | precision measurements |