ATOMIC PARITY VIOLATION IN CESIUM AND IMPLICATIONS FOR NEW PHYSICS

Recent high-precision measurements of atomic parity-nonconserving tran sitions between the 6S and 7S states of cesium allow for a determinati on of the weak nuclear charge with a precision of 1.3%, providing an i mproved test of the standard model at low energy. Implications for new physics are examined in terms of low energy effects on the weak charg e, in particular contact interactions and scalar leptoquark limits. Pr ospects for further improvements are described. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scie nce B.V.