Parity Nonconservation in Rb and Sr$^+$ due to Low-Mass Vector Boson

Abstract

We calculate the parity non-conserving (PNC) electric-dipole ($E1$) transition amplitudes for the $5s - 6s$ and $5s - 4d_{3/2}$ transitions in Rb and Sr$^+$. Our results include both the nuclear-spin-independent and nuclear-spin-dependent contributions, with particular emphasis on the potential effects of a hypothetical additional $Z'$-boson. We highlight possible advantages of using light atoms in searches for such new interaction. The ratio of the contribution of a low mass $Z'$-boson to the contribution of the Standard model $Z$ -boson to PNC effects increases rapidly (faster than $1/Z^2$) with decreasing nuclear charge $Z$. Another advantage is that theoretical interpretations of experiments in lighter systems may be carried out with a higher accuracy than that in Cs, Ba$^+$, Fr and Ra$^+$.