Helicity and nuclear $\beta$ decay correlations

Abstract

We present simple derivations of nuclear $\beta$-decay correlations with an emphasis on the special role of helicity. This provides a good opportunity to teach students about helicity and chirality in particle physics through exercises using simple aspects of quantum mechanics. In addition, this paper serves as an introduction to nuclear $\beta$-decay correlations from both a theoretical and experimental vantage. This article can be used to introduce students to ongoing experiments searching for hints of new physics in the low-energy precision frontier.

References in corpus (6)

• Tests of the standard electroweak model in beta decay
• Precision Measurement of the Neutron Beta-Decay Asymmetry
• Measurement of the Beta-Neutrino Correlation of Sodium-21 using Shakeoff Electrons
• Standard Model tests with trapped radioactive atoms
• Symmetry violations in nuclear and neutron $\beta$ decay
• Supersymmetric Contributions to Weak Decay Correlation Coefficients

Cited by in corpus (2)

• Charge-state distribution of Li ions from the $\beta$ decay of laser-trapped ${}^6$He atoms
• Chirality Through Classical Physics