VSI Seminar: Dr. A. Borschevsky

Atoms and molecules as probes for physics beyond the standard model

A. Borschevsky

Centre for Theoretical Chemistry and Physics, The New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study, Massey University Auckland, Private Bag 102904, 0745 Auckland, New Zealand

Search for variation of fundamental constants (VFC) and for violations of fundamental symmetries can provide a unique opportunity for observing new physics and for testing the various extensions of the Standard Model. This search is conducted using a wide variety of methods, including atomic and molecular clocks, which offer a low energy and thus inexpensive and promising alternative to high energy research in this field. The expected observable effects are predicted to be very small. Thus, very sensitive atomic and molecular systems and extremely precise measurements are required in order to detect any manifestations of the physical phenomena beyond the Standard Model. Theoretical investigations alongside the experimental research can identify promising atomic and molecular candidates for measurements; moreover, accurate calculations are needed to provide the necessary parameters for the interpretations of the experimental results.

Relativistic computational methods suitable for investigations of atoms and molecules in the context of VFC and symmetry violations will be introduced. I will also present a number of applications of these methods to promising atomic and molecular candidates for measurements. These include atoms and molecules with enhanced sensitivity to variation of fundamental constants (suitable for the search for variation of the fine structure constant α and the electron to proton mass ratio μ), promising molecular systems for measurement of the parity (P) violating nuclear spin dependent anapole moments, and molecular systems with enhanced parity violating contributions to the vibrational spectra. New method developments for calculations necessary for the investigations of the electron EDM will be discussed, and an outline of the ongoing and the planned future investigations of the VFC and symmetry violation effects in atoms and molecules will be presented.