The Next Generation T-Violation Experiment (TRIUMF-MTV experiment)(Fostering Joint International Research)

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15KK0172
• Research Category: Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Particle/Nuclear/Cosmic ray/Astro physics
• Research Institution: Rikkyo University
• Principal Investigator: MURATA Jiro 立教大学, 理学部, 教授 (50360649)
• Research Collaborator: Behr John TRIUMF研究所, Physical Sciences Division, Research Scientist ; Levy Phil ; Pearson Mathew ; Alcorta Martin ; WATANABE etsuko ; OZAKI sachi ; YAMAWAKI yuji
• Project Period (FY): 2016 – 2018
• Keywords: 対称性 / ベータ崩壊

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We execute this research project aiming to perform the most precise experiment to examine whether there is the special direction of time, by means of upgrading the MTV experiment internationally. The MTV experiment observe the beta decay of polarized lithium-8, in order to test the R-correlation which violates time reversal symmetry. In this research project, we upgraded the setup to perform test measurements of the Lorenz symmetry as well as the time variation due to the solar activity changing. Especially, we succeeded to obtain an result of day variation of the half-life of lithium-8 in good precision comparable to the best result obtained in the past research.

Free Research Field

原子核・素粒子物理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

時間は過去から未来へと流れており、過去と未来は明確に区別できる様に思える。しかし、物理学の基礎的な法則は時間には特別な向きがないと主張し、実験的にもそうである事が確かめられている。本研究は、この様な基本的な宇宙の性質が本当にそうであるかどうかを問い直し、最も厳しいテストを行う事で検証する事を目指したものである。本研究で得られた学術的知見と共に、そもそも時間の流れとは何か、という万人に共通する疑問に立ち向かう意義もあり、今後はその考察の成果を還元する予定である。