Tests of Fundamental Interactions with Trapped Radioactive Ions
Abstract: β-decay angular correlation coefficients are very powerful probes to search for New Physics beyond the Standard Model. The angular correlations can be measured with high precision through kinematic reconstruction of a radioactive decay and their values can be compared to theoretical predictions to test a wide range of extensions of the Standard Model. In this talk I will describe our current effort to measure the beta-neutrino angular correlation coefficient (aβν) with trapped radioactive 8Li and 8B ions. The 8Li-8B radioactive mirror nuclei represent a particularly attractive system for these studies due to their small masses, large Q-value, and a triple- correlation that enhances the sensitivity to detect New Physics. Furthermore, it is possible to search for the existence of Standard Model-forbidden Second-Class Currents and to test the Conserved-Vector-Current hypothesis by comparing measurements of aβν of both species.