Parity non-conservation in isotope chain of tin

Abstract

We calculate parity non-conservation (PNC) amplitudes for all magnetic-dipole (M1) transitions within the ground $5p^2$ configuration of Sn. Among the transitions considered, the $^1$S$_0$-$^3$P$_1$ transition has the largest PNC amplitude and appears to be the most promising candidate for experiment. We also discuss a measurement method capable of achieving unprecedentedly high precision in a measurement of PNC in this transition. We argue that the most robust test should be based on ratios of PNC amplitudes for different isotopes, since the atomic-structure factor largely cancels in such ratios. We study the effect of the neutron skin on these isotope ratios using available nuclear data for Sn and show that the uncertainty associated with the neutron skin can be reduced to the $10^{-3}$ level relative to the isotopic variation of the PNC effect. Our results indicate that PNC measurements along a chain of Sn isotopes offer a realistic and sensitive probe of new physics.