FrPNC @ TRIUMF 

   The Ultra-cold AMO Physics group is a member of the FrPNC research collaboration, which is proposing a comprehensive experimental program of parity non-conservation studies in francium at the TRIUMF nuclear accelerator facility in Vancouver, Canada. The FrPNC collaboration is proposing the following measurements:

1. Anapole moment: a precision measurement either by the method employed by Carl Wieman's group [C. S. Wood et al., Science 275, 1759 (1997)] or the one discussed here.
   
2. "Standard" parity non-conservation measurement: a precision measurement of the weak mixing mixing angle, by measuring the degree of parity violation in the E1 forbidden 7S_1/2 Y 8S_1/2 transition. This is the "standard" method used in the cesium parity violation experiment [C. S. Wood et al., Science 275, 1759 (1997)]. The parity mixing in francium is expected to be a factor of 18 larger than in cesium.

   Francium is the most attractive atom in which to further improve the precision of atomic parity non-conservation measurements. Francium presents serious experimental challenges, but these have been overcome for the most part. The francium atom remains the atom with largest expected parity non-conservation signals and the simplest theory with which to interpret the results.

For further information on parity non-conservation experiments in francium, please see

   J. E. Simsarian, S. Aubin, J. S. Grossman, L. A. Orozco, M. Pearson, G. D. Sprouse, and W. Z. Zhao
   Parity Violation in Atoms and Polarized Electron Scattering, p. 312
   Ed. B. Frois and M.-A. Bouchiat, World Scientific (1999).

   G. D. Sprouse, S. Aubin, E. Gomez, J. M. Grossman, L. A. Orozco, M. R. Pearson, and M. True
   Atomic probes of electromagnetic and weak interactions with trapped radioactive atoms
   Eur. Phys. J. A 13 , 239 (2002) [PDF]

FrPNC collaboration members

   Professor G. Gwinner, Spokesperson, University of Manitoba [link]
   Professor G. D. Sprouse, SUNY Stony Brook [link]
   Dr. J. A. Behr, Research Scientist, TRIUMF [link]
   Dr. K. P. Jackson, Research Scientist, TRIUMF [link]
   Dr. M. R. Pearson, Research Scientist, TRIUMF [link]
   Professor L. A. Orozco, University of Maryland [link]
   Professor V. V. Flambaum, University of New South Wales [link]
   Professor S. A. M. Aubin, College of William and Mary