Measurement of Parity Nonconservation in Atomic Bismuth

Abstract

Parity-nonconserving optical rotation has been observed and measured on the 8757-ÅA magnetic-dipole absorption line in atomic bismuth vapor. The result, $R\equiv \mathrm{Im}\left(\frac{E_1}{M_1}\right)=(-10.4\mathrm{}\pm 1.7)\times {10}^{-8\mathrm{}}$, is of the approximate size calculated with use of the Weinberg-Salam theory of the weak neutral-current interaction with ${{sin}^2\theta }_{\mathrm{W}}=0.23\mathrm{}$.