Alexander J. Silenko

New Method of Measuring Electric Dipole Moments in Storage Rings

A new highly sensitive method of looking for electric dipole moments of charged particles in storage rings is described. The major systematic errors inherent in the method are addressed and ways to minimize them are suggested. It seems possible to measure the muon EDM to levels that test speculative theories beyond the standard model.

Semiclassical limit for Dirac particles interacting with a gravitational field

The behavior of a spin-1/2 particle in a weak static gravitational field is considered. The Dirac Hamiltonian is diagonalized by the Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation providing also the simple form for the momentum and spin polarization operators. The operator equations of momentum and spin motion are derived for a first time. Their semiclassical limit is analyzed. The dipole spin-gravity coupling in the previously found (another) Hamiltonian does not lead to any observable effects. The general agreement between the quantum and classical approaches is established, contrary to several recent claims. The expression for the gravitational Stern-Gerlach force is derived. The helicity evolution in the gravitational field and corresponding accelerated frame coincides, being the manifestation of the equivalence principle.

Spin dynamics in gravitational fields of rotating bodies and the equivalence principle

We discuss the quantum and classical dynamics of a particle with spin in the gravitational field of a rotating source. A relativistic equation describing the motion of classical spin in curved spacetimes is obtained. We demonstrate that the precession of the classical spin is in a perfect agreement with the motion of the quantum spin derived from the Foldy-Wouthuysen approach for the Dirac particle in a curved spacetime. We show that the precession effect depends crucially on the choice of a tetrad. The results obtained are compared to the earlier computations for different tetrad gauges.

A New Method For A Sensitive Deuteron EDM Experiment

In this paper a new method is presented for particles in storage rings which could reach a statistical sensitivity of 10−27 e⋅cm for the deuteron EDM. This implies an improvement of two orders of magnitude over the present best limits on the T‐odd nuclear forces ξ parameter.

Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation for relativistic particles in external fields

A method of Foldy–Wouthuysen transformation for relativistic spin-1/2 particles in external fields is proposed. It permits the determination of the Hamilton operator in the Foldy–Wouthuysen representation with any accuracy. Interactions between a particle having an anomalous magnetic moment and nonstationary electromagnetic and electroweak fields are investigated.

Equivalence principle and experimental tests of gravitational spin effects

We study the possibility of experimental testing the manifestations of equivalence principle in spin-gravity interactions. We reconsider the earlier experimental data and get the first experimental bound on anomalous gravitomagnetic moment. The spin coupling to the Earth’s rotation may also be explored at the extensions of neutron EDM and g−2 experiments. The spin coupling to the terrestrial gravity produces a considerable effect which may be discovered at the planned deuteron EDM experiment. The Earth’s rotation should also be taken into account in optical experiments on a search for axionlike particles.

Foldy-Wouthyusen transformation and semiclassical limit for relativistic particles in strong external fields

A general method of the Foldy-Wouthyusen (FW) transformation for relativistic particles of arbitrary spin in strong external fields has been developed. The use of the found transformation operator is not restricted by any definite commutation relations between even and odd operators. The final FW Hamiltonian can be expanded into a power series in the Planck constant which characterizes the order of magnitude of quantum corrections. Exact expressions for low-order terms in the Planck constant can be derived. Finding these expressions allows one to perform a simple transition to the semiclassical approximation which defines a classical limit of the relativistic quantum mechanics. As an example, interactions of spin-1/2 and scalar particles with a strong electromagnetic field have been considered. Quantum and semiclassical equations of motion of particles and their spins have been deduced. Full agreement between quantum and classical theories has been established.

Dirac fermions in strong gravitational fields

We discuss the dynamics of the Dirac fermions in the general strong gravitational and electromagnetic fields. We derive the general Hermitian Dirac Hamiltonian and transform it to the Foldy-Wouthuysen representation for the spatially isotropic metric. The quantum operator equations of motion are obtained and the semiclassical limit is analyzed. The comparison of the quantum mechanical and classical equations shows their complete agreement. The helicity dynamics in strong fields is discussed. Squaring the covariant Dirac equation explicitly shows a similarity of the interactions of electromagnetic and gravitational fields with a charged and spinning particle.

Spin-torsion coupling and gravitational moments of Dirac fermions: theory and experimental bounds

We discuss the quantum dynamics of the Dirac fermion particle in a gauge gravitational field. The minimal as well as the Pauli-type nonminimal coupling of a fermion with external fields is studied, bringing into consideration the notions of the translational and the Lorentz gravitational moments. The anomalous gravitomagnetic and gravitoelectric moments are ruled out on the basis of the covariance arguments. We derive the general Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation for an arbitrary configuration of the gauge gravitational field without assuming it weak. Making use of the Foldy-Wouthuysen Hamiltonian for the Dirac particle coupled to magnetic field in a noninertial reference system, we analyze the recent experimental data and obtain bounds on the spacetime torsion.

DERIVATION OF GENERALIZED THOMAS–BARGMANN–MICHEL–TELEGDI EQUATION FOR A PARTICLE WITH ELECTRIC DIPOLE MOMENT

General classical equation of spin motion is explicitly derived for a particle with magnetic and electric dipole moments in electromagnetic fields. Equation describing the spin motion relative to the momentum direction in storage rings is also obtained.