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arXiv · 1711.03700

Probing "long-range" neutrino-mediated forces with atomic and nuclear spectroscopy

Yevgeny V. Stadnik
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Abstract

The exchange of a pair of low-mass neutrinos between electrons, protons and neutrons produces a "long-range" $1/r^5$ potential, which can be sought for in phenomena originating on the atomic and sub-atomic length scales. We calculate the effects of neutrino-pair exchange on transition and binding energies in atoms and nuclei. In the case of atomic s-wave states, there is a large enhancement of the induced energy shifts due to the lack of a centrifugal barrier and the highly singular nature of the neutrino-mediated potential. We derive limits on neutrino-mediated forces from measurements of the deuteron binding energy and transition energies in positronium, muonium, hydrogen and deuterium, as well as isotope-shift measurements in calcium ions. Our limits improve on existing constraints on neutrino-mediated forces from experiments that search for new macroscopic forces by 18 orders of magnitude. Future spectroscopy experiments have the potential to probe long-range forces mediated by the exchange of pairs of standard-model neutrinos and other weakly-charged particles.

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Yevgeny V. Stadnik. 2018-05-09. Probing "long-range" neutrino-mediated forces with atomic and nuclear spectroscopy. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.120.223202

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