PRECISION-MEASUREMENT OF THE RATIO OF SCALAR TO TENSOR TRANSITION POLARIZABILITIES FOR THE CESIUM 6S-7S TRANSITION

The ratio of scalar to tensor transition polarizabilities (alpha/beta) for the cesium 6S(1/2)F = 3 to 7S(1/2)F' = 3 transition has been meas ured 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 alpha/beta=-9.905+/- 0.011. This result represents a tenfold improvement in precision, and agrees well with previous measurements and calculations. The ratio alp ha/beta is of critical importance for cesium atomic parity violation e xperiments.