Competitive constraints on exotic tensor currents from $EC/β^+$ ratios

Abstract

We introduce the ratio of electron capture to positron decay rates of unstable nuclei as a probe for exotic tensor currents in the electroweak sector. We calculate nuclear structure corrections and newly derived radiative corrections and obtain competitive limits on exotic tensor couplings using historically available data to find $\varepsilon_T = (1.06 \pm 0.76)\times 10^{-3}$ which is competitive with collider searches and the global $β$-decay database. In doing so, we resolve a 50-year-old tension in the strongly hindered $^{22}$Na transition by retaining higher-order operators, obtaining a consistent description of its different weak-decay observables. Finally, we discuss the potential of this method to significantly improve tensor constraints using modern cryogenic quantum sensors.