Over the years, a large set of measurements and theoretical calculations have been performed, leading to the corrected Ft-values for the superallowed pure Fermi transitions. The weighted mean from these values leads to a high precision value for the Vud quark mixing matrix element, i.e. Vud = 0.97425(22) [1]. In combination with significant advances in the determination of the Vus matrix element from Kaon decay [2], this has led to a very high precision test of the unitarity of this matrix and subsequently to strong limits on several types of new physics beyond the Standard Model [3, 4].
Another source to address Vud is provided by the mirror transitions between isospin T=1/2 states [5]. Here, similar to the Fermi -transitions, one has to determine the Ft-value [6] but one has also to measure the ratio between the Fermi and the Gamow-Teller strengths, by e.g. performing a β-ν correlation or β asymmetry measurement. Using data readily available in the literature from experiments that were not originally performed for this purpose, a value of Vud = 0.9717(17) was obtained [5]. Dedicated studies of these mirror-decays can significantly improve the precision on this value, and at the same time contribute to the ongoing study of the isospin symmetry breaking corrections, which are often larger for the mirror-transitions.
Recently, a critical survey [7] has shown that the measurement of the
Some years ago asymmetry parameter, A, in the mirror decay of 35Ar to the 35Cl ground state (gs.) is the most sensitive among all β-ν correlation and β asymmetry parameter measurements for the mirror decays. Indeed, a measurement of the asymmetry parameter A in the gs. to gs. positron decay of 35Ar, with a relative precision of 0.5%, would yield a highly competitive value for Vud which will be the most precise among mirror transitions.
This talk will present the ongoing preparations for an accepted experiment at ISOLDE, CERN (IS601, [8]) aiming at measuring A(35Ar) at this level of precision.
The laser polarized beam will be provided by the new VITO beam line [9] that will be commissioned in September 2016 and which will provide both the required intensity and purity to achieve the 0.5% precision on A during a physics run planned at a later stage.
The talk will also detail the experimental technique used to extract the asymmetry parameter consisting in the implantation of the polarized beam into a cooled crystal host surrounded by a holding magnetic field and followed by the simultaneous measurement of both the 35Ar transition to the g.s. and to the first excited state of 35Cl through a β-γ coincidence detection setup.
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[4] Bazavov A, et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 112 112001 (2014)
[5] Naviliat-Cuncic O, Severijns N. Phys. Rev. Lett. 102 142302 (2009)
[6] Severijns N, Tandecki M, Phalet T, Towner IS. Phys. Rev. C 78 055501 (2008)
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[8] Velten P., et al., Tech. Rep. CERN-INTC-2014-062. INTC-P-426
[9] M. Stachura, et. al., Nucl. Instr. Meth. Phys. Res. B 376 (2016) 369-373