Precision measurement of the ratio of scalar to tensor transition polarizabilities for the cesium 6S-7S transition

Abstract

The ratio of scalar to tensor transition polarizabilities (\ensuremath{\alpha}/\ensuremath{\mathrm{B}}) for the cesium ${6\mathrm{S}}_{1\mathrm{/}2}$F=3 to ${7\mathrm{S}}_{1\mathrm{/}2}$F\ensuremath{'}=3 transition has been measured using a spin-polarized atomic beam and an interference technique. We use an electric- and magnetic-field configuration where the Stark-induced electric dipole transition amplitudes arising from the scalar and tensor polarizabilities interfere, giving rise to large changes in the 6S-7S transition rate. The measured ratio is \ensuremath{\alpha}/\ensuremath{\mathrm{B}}=-9.905\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.011. This result represents a tenfold improvement in precision, and agrees well with previous measurements and calculations. The ratio \ensuremath{\alpha}/\ensuremath{\mathrm{B}} is of critical importance for cesium atomic parity violation experiments.