PARITY VIOLATION IN THE COMPOUND NUCLEUS

The status of parity violation in the compound nucleus is reviewed. Th e results of previous experimental results obtained by scattering pola rized epithermal neutrons from heavy nuclei in the 3-p and 4-p p-wave strength function peaks are presented. Experimental techniques are pre sented. The extraction of the mean squared matrix element of the parit y-violating interaction, M(2), between compound-nuclear level and the relationship of M(2) to the coupling strengths in the meson exchange w eak nucleon-nucleon potential are discussed. The tendency of measured asymmetries to have a common sign and theoretical implications are dis cussed. New experimental results are presented that show that the comm on sign phenomenon is not universal, as theoretical models developed u p to now would predict. This talk is dedicated to our friend and colle ague Professor Ernest M. Henley, who has done so much to inspire the u nderstanding and study of fundamental symmetries in the nucleus.