Discrete Symmetries and CP Violation: From Experiment to Theory (Oxford Graduate Texts)

The investigation of discrete symmetries is a fascinating subject which has been central in the agenda of physics research for 50 years, in several fields, and is the target of many experiments, ongoing and in preparation, all over the world. This book approaches the subject from a somewhat less traditional angle: while being self-contained and suitable to the reader who wants to acquire a solid knowledge of the topic, it puts more emphasis on the experimental aspects of the field, trying to provide a wider picture than usual and to convey the intellectual challenge of experimental physics and the related connection to phenomenology, a purpose for which the precision experiments in this field--often rather elegant and requiring a good amount of ingenuity--are very well suited. Discrete symmetries (parity, charge conjugation, time reversal and of course CP symmetry) in microscopic (atomic, nuclear and particle) physics are discussed, including the detailed description of some key or representative experiments, discussing their principles and challenges more than the historical development. The main past achievements and the most recent developments are both discussed.The level goes from introductory to rather advanced; while mainly addressed to graduate students, the book can also be useful to undergraduates (by skipping some of the most advanced sections and profiting from brief introductions to some topics in the appendixes), and to young researchers looking for a wider modern overview of the issues related to CP symmetry. Contents......Page 14 Preface......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 12 1.1 Symmetry and invariance......Page 18 1.2 Transformations and symmetries in quantum theory......Page 19 1.3 Symmetries and conservation laws......Page 23 1.4 Discrete transformations and inversions......Page 26 1.5 Symmetry violations......Page 29 2.1 Parity transformation......Page 32 2.2 Parity symmetry......Page 47 The determination of the neutral pion parity......Page 53 2.3 Parity violation......Page 59 Beta decay asymmetries from polarized nuclei......Page 64 Longitudinal polarization of beta decay electrons......Page 70 Beta decay asymmetries of free polarized neutrons......Page 74 Muon decay asymmetries......Page 76 Optical rotation of light......Page 87 Inelastic electron scattering......Page 91 Møller scattering......Page 92 Parity-violating gamma decay asymmetry......Page 97 Circular polarization of gamma decay radiation......Page 100 3.1 Charge conjugation transformation......Page 105 3.2 Charge conjugation symmetry......Page 115 3.3 Charge conjugation violation......Page 125 Charge conjugation tests in positronium decay......Page 128 η → π[sup(+)] π[sup(–)] π[sup(0)] asymmetries......Page 133 4.1 Time reversal transformation......Page 138 4.2 Of phase factors......Page 147 4.3 Time reversal symmetry......Page 153 4.4 Time reversal violation......Page 171 Muon transverse polarization in semi-leptonic K decays......Page 174 Transverse polarization in beta decay......Page 180 Beam searches for neutron EDM......Page 192 ILL storage EDM experiment......Page 196 The muon EDM......Page 202 5.1 CPT symmetry......Page 212 5.2 Experimental tests of CPT......Page 222 Penning trap measurements......Page 225 Positronium decay correlation tests......Page 232 5.3 Super-selection rules......Page 235 5.4 Spin and statistics......Page 238 Search for antisymmetric two-photon states......Page 244 6.1 CP symmetry: found and lost......Page 248 The discovery of CP violation......Page 257 The proof of CP violation......Page 262 6.2 Consequences of CP symmetry......Page 267 6.3 CP violation signatures......Page 277 Hyperon decay asymmetry measurements......Page 281 7.1 Flavoured neutral meson mixing......Page 293 7.2 Flavoured neutral meson decays......Page 309 7.3 Time evolution of flavour eigenstates......Page 317 7.4 Asymmetries......Page 326 7.5 Meson pairs......Page 330 8.1 Neutral kaons: generalities......Page 339 8.2 Semi-leptonic decays......Page 345 Semi-leptonic charge asymmetries......Page 349 8.3 Two-pion decays and direct CP violation......Page 351 Direct CP violation in neutral K decays......Page 368 8.4 Time reversal violation......Page 375 T violation in neutral K mixing......Page 376 8.5 CPT symmetry......Page 379 8.6 Three-pion decays......Page 387 8.7 Other decay modes......Page 392 8.8 Coherent kaon pairs......Page 394 8.9 C,P properties of CP violation......Page 397 9.1 Early concepts......Page 400 9.2 The Standard Model......Page 402 9.3 From theory to measurements......Page 416 9.4 From measurements to theory......Page 428 9.5 Other scenarios......Page 431 10.1 Flavour mixing......Page 436 10.2 D mesons......Page 438 10.3 B mesons phenomenology......Page 443 10.4 B meson experiments......Page 452 B-factory experiments......Page 457 Interference CP violation at B-factories......Page 460 11.1 Symmetries of gravity......Page 472 11.2 The strong CP problem......Page 476 11.3 The cosmic connection......Page 477 11.4 Mirror matter......Page 497 11.5 Macroscopic chirality......Page 498 Coda......Page 500 Appendix A: Notation......Page 502 B.1 Scalar fields......Page 504 B.2 Fields with spin......Page 507 B.3 Interactions......Page 510 C.1 Scattering......Page 512 C.2 Approximations......Page 517 Appendix D: The Dalitz–Fabri plot......Page 520 E.1 Polarization......Page 523 E.2 Covariant polarization......Page 525 E.3 Time evolution......Page 528 E.4 Massless particles......Page 529 F.1 Of errors, mistakes and experiments......Page 531 F.2 Treatment of systematic errors......Page 533 F.3 Of errors and cross checks......Page 539 Bibliography......Page 543 List of Experiments......Page 562 C......Page 564 M......Page 565 T......Page 566 Y......Page 567 Contents 14 Preface 8 Acknowledgements 12 1 Symmetries and invariances 18 1.1 Symmetry and invariance 18 1.2 Transformations and symmetries in quantum theory 19 1.3 Symmetries and conservation laws 23 1.4 Discrete transformations and inversions 26 1.5 Symmetry violations 29 2 Parity 32 2.1 Parity transformation 32 2.2 Parity symmetry 47 The determination of the neutral pion parity 53 2.3 Parity violation 59 Beta decay asymmetries from polarized nuclei 64 Longitudinal polarization of beta decay electrons 70 Beta decay asymmetries of free polarized neutrons 74 Muon decay asymmetries 76 Optical rotation of light 87 Inelastic electron scattering 91 Møller scattering 92 Parity-violating gamma decay asymmetry 97 Circular polarization of gamma decay radiation 100 3 Charge conjugation 105 3.1 Charge conjugation transformation 105 3.2 Charge conjugation symmetry 115 3.3 Charge conjugation violation 125 Charge conjugation tests in positronium decay 128 η → π[sup(+)] π[sup(–)] π[sup(0)] asymmetries 133 4 Time reversal 138 4.1 Time reversal transformation 138 4.2 Of phase factors 147 4.3 Time reversal symmetry 153 4.4 Time reversal violation 171 Muon transverse polarization in semi-leptonic K decays 174 Transverse polarization in beta decay 180 Beam searches for neutron EDM 192 ILL storage EDM experiment 196 The muon EDM 202 5 CPT and spin statistics 212 5.1 CPT symmetry 212 5.2 Experimental tests of CPT 222 Penning trap measurements 225 Positronium decay correlation tests 232 5.3 Super-selection rules 235 5.4 Spin and statistics 238 Search for antisymmetric two-photon states 244 6 CP symmetry 248 6.1 CP symmetry: found and lost 248 The discovery of CP violation 257 The proof of CP violation 262 6.2 Consequences of CP symmetry 267 6.3 CP violation signatures 277 Hyperon decay asymmetry measurements 281 7 Flavoured neutral mesons 293 7.1 Flavoured neutral meson mixing 293 7.2 Flavoured neutral meson decays 309 7.3 Time evolution of flavour eigenstates 317 7.4 Asymmetries 326 7.5 Meson pairs 330 8 CP violation in the K system 339 8.1 Neutral kaons: generalities 339 8.2 Semi-leptonic decays 345 Semi-leptonic charge asymmetries 349 8.3 Two-pion decays and direct CP violation 351 Direct CP violation in neutral K decays 368 8.4 Time reversal violation 375 T violation in neutral K mixing 376 8.5 CPT symmetry 379 8.6 Three-pion decays 387 8.7 Other decay modes 392 8.8 Coherent kaon pairs 394 8.9 C,P properties of CP violation 397 9 The link to theory 400 9.1 Early concepts 400 9.2 The Standard Model 402 9.3 From theory to measurements 416 9.4 From measurements to theory 428 9.5 Other scenarios 431 10 CP violation in heavy meson systems 436 10.1 Flavour mixing 436 10.2 D mesons 438 10.3 B mesons phenomenology 443 10.4 B meson experiments 452 B-factory experiments 457 Interference CP violation at B-factories 460 11 Widening the picture 472 11.1 Symmetries of gravity 472 11.2 The strong CP problem 476 11.3 The cosmic connection 477 11.4 Mirror matter 497 11.5 Macroscopic chirality 498 Coda 500 Appendix A: Notation 502 Appendix B: Quantum field theory 504 B.1 Scalar fields 504 B.2 Fields with spin 507 B.3 Interactions 510 Appendix C: Scattering in quantum theory 512 C.1 Scattering 512 C.2 Approximations 517 Appendix D: The Dalitz–Fabri plot 520 Appendix E: Spin and polarization 523 E.1 Polarization 523 E.2 Covariant polarization 525 E.3 Time evolution 528 E.4 Massless particles 529 Appendix F: Systematic errors 531 F.1 Of errors, mistakes and experiments 531 F.2 Treatment of systematic errors 533 F.3 Of errors and cross checks 539 Bibliography 543 List of Experiments 562 Index 564 A 564 B 564 C 564 D 565 E 565 F 565 G 565 H 565 I 565 J 565 K 565 L 565 M 565 N 566 O 566 P 566 Q 566 R 566 S 566 T 566 U 567 V 567 W 567 X 567 Y 567 The investigation of discrete symmetries is a fascinating subject which has been central to the agenda of physics research for 50 years, and has been the target of many experiments, ongoing and in preparation, all over the world. This book approaches the subject from a somewhat less traditional angle: while being self-contained and suitable to the reader who wants to acquire a solid knowledge of the topic, it puts more emphasis on the experimental aspects of the field, trying to provide a wider picture than usual and to convey the intellectual challenge of experimental physics. The book includes the related connection to phenomenology, a purpose for which the precision experiments in this field - often rather elegant and requiring a good amount of ingenuity - are very well suited. The book discusses discrete symmetries (parity, charge conjugation, time reversal, and of course CP symmetry) in microscopic (atomic, nuclear, and particle) physics, and includes the detailed description of some key or representative experiments. The book discusses their principles and challenges more than the historical development. The main past achievements and the most recent developments are both included. The level goes from introductory to advanced. While mainly addressed to graduate students, the book can also be useful to undergraduates (by skipping some of the more advanced sections, and utilizing the brief introductions to some topics in the appendices), and to young researchers looking for a wider modern overview of the issues related to CP symmetry. This Title Takes A Fresh Approach To The Teaching Of Discrete Symmetries Which Are Central To Fundamental Physics: Mirror Symmetry, Matter/anti-matter Symmetry, And Time Reversal. It Includes Detailed Discussions Of Relevant Experiments - Conveying Some Of The Fascination And Intellectual Challenges Of Experimental Physics. Symmetries And Invariances -- Parity -- Charge Conjugation -- Time Reversal -- Cpt And Spin Statistics -- Cp Symmetry -- Flavoured Neutral Mesons -- Cp Violation In The K System -- The Link To Theory -- Cp Violation In Heavy Meson Systems -- Widening The Picture -- Appendix A : Notation -- Appendix B : Quantum Field Theory -- Appendix C : Scattering In Quatum Theory -- Appendix D : The Dalitz-fabri Plot -- Appendix E : Spin And Polarization -- Appendix F : Systematic Errors. M.s. Sozzi. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [526]-544) And Index. "This book discusses discrete symmetries (parity, charge conjugation, time reversal, and of course CP symmetry) in microscopic (atomic, nuclear, and particle) physics, and includes the detailed description of some key or representative experiments. The book discusses their principles and challenges more than the historical development. The main past achievements and the most recent developments are both included. The level goes from introductory to advanced. While mainly addressed to graduate students, the book can also be useful to undergraduates (by skipping some of the more advanced sections, and utilizing the brief introductions to some topics in the appendices), and to young researchers looking for a wider modern overview of the issues related to CP symmetry."--Jacket This book takes a fresh approach to the teaching of discrete symmetries which are central to fundamental physics: mirror symmetry, matter/anti-matter symmetry, and time reversal. It is self-contained and includes detailed discussions of relevant experiments - conveying some of the fascination and intellectual challenges of experimental physics.