Understanding the Wu Experiment: ParityV and Gamma-Ray Anisotropy Explained

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In summary, the conversation discusses the observed gamma-ray anisotropy as a measure of polarization and temperature in the results of the Wu experiment. The person is questioning why there is any gamma-ray anisotropy for the EM transition of Nickel-60 to its ground state. The other person suggests checking the reference, Ambler et al., which explains that the gamma rays in Co-60 have a characteristic angular distribution and this distribution depends on the spin axis of the nucleus.
  • #1
ChrisVer
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Hi, a fast question while I was reading the results of the Wu experiment:
http://iktp.tu-dresden.de/uploads/media/Experimental_test_of_parity_in_beta_decay_-_Wu.pdf
It says that "the observed gamma-ray anisotropy was used as a measure of polarization and effectively temperature"
However, I don't understand why there should be any gamma-ray anisotropy for the EM transition of Nickel-60* to its ground state. Any explanation for that?
 
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  • #2
If you go back one paragraph, you will see the first time this is mentioned, there is a a little number 2. This indicates a reference, and if you are unclear about this, you should look at that reference. (Ambler et al., who is one of the authors of this paper)

In that paper, it is explained that there are two gamma rays in Co-60, and a) they have a characteristic angular distribution between them, and b) this distribution also depends on the spin axis of the Co-60 nucleus. If you want to calculate this, it's what you get from a 5+ nucleus transitioning to a 0+ nucleus by emission of two photons.
 
  • #3
I don't have access at the moment in the references. :frown:
 

Related to Understanding the Wu Experiment: ParityV and Gamma-Ray Anisotropy Explained

1. What is the Wu experiment and why is it significant in science?

The Wu experiment, also known as the Wu experiment on the violation of parity conservation, was a groundbreaking experiment conducted in 1956 by Chinese-American physicist Chien-Shiung Wu and her colleagues. It demonstrated that the weak nuclear force violates the principle of parity conservation, which was previously believed to be a fundamental law of nature. This discovery fundamentally changed the understanding of the structure of the universe and opened up new avenues for research in particle physics.

2. How did the Wu experiment challenge the current understanding of the weak nuclear force?

The Wu experiment challenged the current understanding of the weak nuclear force by showing that it violates the principle of parity conservation. This principle states that the laws of physics should remain the same if all particles are reflected in a mirror, but the Wu experiment showed that this is not the case for the weak nuclear force. This discovery led to new theories and models that better explain the behavior of the weak nuclear force.

3. What was the setup of the Wu experiment and how did it work?

The Wu experiment involved sending a beam of cobalt-60 nuclei through a magnetic field onto a target of nickel-60 nuclei. The cobalt-60 nuclei would decay into nickel-60 nuclei, and the electrons emitted from the decay would be deflected by the magnetic field. By measuring the distribution of the electrons, the researchers were able to determine the spin orientation of the nuclei. They found that the electrons were preferentially emitted in the direction opposite to the nuclei's spin, indicating a violation of parity conservation.

4. How did the Wu experiment contribute to our understanding of the fundamental laws of nature?

The Wu experiment was a crucial piece of evidence that helped to establish the Standard Model of particle physics, which is the current framework for understanding the fundamental laws of nature. It showed that the weak nuclear force is not symmetric under parity transformations, which is a key aspect of the Standard Model. This discovery also paved the way for further research and discoveries in the field of particle physics.

5. What impact did the Wu experiment have on the field of physics?

The Wu experiment had a significant impact on the field of physics. It challenged existing theories and opened up new avenues for research. It also paved the way for further experiments that confirmed the violation of parity conservation and led to the development of new theories and models. The Wu experiment is considered one of the most important experiments in the history of physics, and it continues to be studied and referenced by scientists today.

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