|
VOLUME 93 (2011) | ISSUE 11 |
PAGE 699
|
Testing neutrino magnetic moment in ionization of atoms by neutrino impact
K. A. Kouzakov+, A. I. Studenikin*, M. B. Voloshin
+Department of Nuclear Physics and Quantum Theory of Collisions, Faculty of Physics, Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia *Department of Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Physics, Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia William I. Fine Theoretical Physics Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455 Minnesota, USA Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics, 117218 Moscow, Russia
Abstract
The atomic ionization processes induced by scattering of
neutrinos play key roles in the experimental searches for a
neutrino magnetic moment. Current experiments with reactor
(anti)neutrinos employ germanium detectors having energy threshold
comparable to typical binding energies of atomic electrons, which
fact must be taken into account in the interpretation of the data.
Our theoretical analysis shows that the so-called stepping
approximation to the neutrino-impact ionization is well applicable
for the lowest bound Coulomb states, and it becomes exact in the
semiclassical limit. Numerical evidence is presented using the
Thomas-Fermi model for the germanium atom.
|
|