GSI anomaly and spin-rotation coupling

TL;DR

This paper proposes a model linking GSI anomaly in ion decay modulation to spin-rotation coupling, predicting the effect depends on ion motion and mass, and clarifies the role of electron-nucleus spin interactions.

Contribution

It introduces a new model explaining the GSI anomaly through spin-rotation coupling, emphasizing the importance of ion motion and mass dependence, and rules out electron-nucleus spin-spin coupling as a cause.

Findings

Modulation arises from spin-rotation coupling of electron and nucleus.

The anomaly is absent in rectilinear motion or stopped ions.

Modulation frequency is inversely proportional to atomic mass.

Abstract

We propose a model in which a recently reported modulation in the decay of the hydrogenlike ions ${}^{140}$Pr$^{\, 58 +}$, ${}^{142}$Pm$^{\, 60 +}$ and ${}^{122}$I$^{\, 52 +}$ arises from the coupling of rotation to the spin of electron and nucleus. The model shows that the spin-spin coupling of electron and nucleus does not contribute to the modulation and predicts that the anomaly cannot be observed if the motion of the ions is rectilinear, or if the ions are stopped in a target. It also supports the notion that the modulation frequency is proportional to the inverse of the atomic mass.